Ed Home (text) - TRC Home - sciencelines IndexFermilab Education Partnerships
Fermilab has had educational partnerships since 1990. Schools
with minority populations have had positive connections with Fermilab
staff who share the same heritage.
When the Greater Aurora Chamber of Commerce initiated the School/Business
Partnership Program in 1990 the Education Office was teamed with
Simmons Middle School, District 131 in Aurora, IL. During subsequent
years Fermilab staff have made classroom visits, judged science
fair projects and provided teacher enhancement programs. The focus
for 1995-96 activities is technology in education. Teacher leaders
at Simmons are attending several Fermilab inservice activities
to develop their abilities to use databases, probeware, multimedia
and Internet resources. Teachers from Simmons contribute to the
partnership with activity inserts like the one in this issue of
sciencelines.
Fermilab's partnership with Gary School, District 33 in West Chicago,
IL began in 1992 when all 576 Gary students visited Fermilab for
the AAAS Public Science Day held in conjunction with the AAAS
Annual Convention. Students participated in hands-on science activities
with Fermilab scientists at school and then rode buses to Fermilab
where they were joined by Fermilab Hispanic volunteers who presented
small science demonstrations during lunch. The Weird Science teachers
presented a science show in the auditorium for all the students
and their parent and teacher chaperones. Each year Fermilab staff
members have worked with Gary teachers to provide exciting science
experiences in the classroom. This year six scientists are working
at Gary, one at each grade level. Almost half of the Gary students
are Spanish speaking, and Fermilab has a unique opportunity to
provide positive role models to encourage all students to have
a lifelong interest in science-perhaps even choosing science as
a career.