| NASHUA -- Rivier
College and Daniel Webster College have been awarded a $13,729 planning
grant by the NHHEAF Network Educational Foundation in Concord that
allows the colleges to work together and with school districts to define
and plan a program called IGNITES: Inspiring and Growing Natural
Interests and Talents in Education for Science. It is the first such
collaborative effort between the two schools.
IGNITES will address a national problem
on a local level, increasing diversity in the U.S. scientific
population. The program will target middle-school students and teachers
to strengthen science learning resources in the Nashua region by
offering hands-on summer experiences linking students and teachers.
IGNITES will also include library and Internet resources, to add value
and maintain momentum after the summer program's conclusion.
Rivier faculty will provide instruction
in Biology, Chemistry and Education; Daniel Webster professors will
teach Physics, Engineering and Aeronautics.
"We were pleased to collaborate with
Daniel Webster to obtain this grant, and we look forward to developing a
program together that will promote education in the sciences," said Sr.
Therese Larochelle, p.m., Rivier's vice president for academic affairs.
"This project presents a unique
opportunity to join forces, bringing combined talent and expertise to
bear on this critical issue," said Dr. Michael Fishbein, provost and
vice president for academic affairs at Daniel Webster College.
Each college is already involved with
efforts in the region to enhance the teaching and learning of Science in
the K-12 environment. Faculty at both institutions hope that when
IGNITES is launched, it will serve as a model for other New Hampshire
colleges, universities and school systems. |
