The Future of Science Education in New York: Academy, SUNY Co-Host Panel Discussion

The New York Academy of Sciences will host a panel discussion on The Future of Science Education in New York, featuring education leaders at the state and city levels. The Tuesday, January 11 evening live event is free and open to the public. Stakeholders around the state will join the discussion via webinar, and viewing parties at several SUNY campuses are designed to open local dialogues about the unique challenges faced in various regions.

Science educators in New York are facing major changes to their profession. New national standards, proposed Obama administration revisions to the No Child Left Behind Act, continued budgetary pressures, and pending revisions to teacher training programs all promise to alter the state’s K-12 education landscape. In addition, science educators are anxious to know how their classrooms will be affected by the $700 million in funding for New York from the federal Race to the Top program, which is designed to spur reforms in state and local district K-12 education.

"As a nexus of science and education in New York, the Academy is honored to host such an esteemed panel of education leaders to offer insight on all of these topics of vital interest to New York science educators," says Dr. Meghan Groome, Director of K12 Science Education Initiatives at the Academy.

WHAT:
Panel Discussion: The Future of Science Education in New York

WHO:
Moderator: Margaret Ashida, Prject Director, Empire State STEM Learning Network

Panelists:
Milton Cofield, PhD, Vice Chancellor, Board of Regents, New York State Education Department
David Steiner, PhD, Commissioner, New York State Education Department
Josh Thomases, Deputy Chief Schools Officer for Academics, NYC Department of Education
Nancy Zimpher, PhD, Chancellor, State University of New York

WHEN: Tuesday, January 11, 2011 | 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Welcome Reception 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm

WHERE:  The New York Academy of Sciences
7 World Trade Center, 250 Greenwich St., 40th floor, New York, NY

This event is presented by the New York Academy of Sciences in partnership with the State University of New York. For more information see www.nyas.org/newyork.

Media may contact Adrienne Burke, Director, Public Outreach, the New York Academy of Sciences, at aburke@nyas.org, 212.298.8655.

The New York Academy of Sciences is an independent, not-for-profit organization committed to advancing science, technology, and society worldwide since 1817. With 25,000 members in 140 countries, NYAS is creating a global community of science for the benefit of humanity. NYAS' core mission is to advance scientific knowledge, positively impact the major global challenges of society with science-based solutions, and increase the number of scientifically informed individuals in society at large. Visit us online at www.nyas.org.