Lilly Foundation grant to spur science education in Indiana
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — A consortium of Indiana educators, businesses and government will use a $1.5 million grant from the Eli Lilly and Co. Foundation to train K-12 teachers in a research-developed science curriculum designed to better prepare the state's youth for the future.
The Indiana Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Resource Network (I-STEM) has started summer professional development workshops to familiarize teachers and administrators with the new science program, scheduled to be used by schools beginning in fall 2011.
Teachers being trained this summer will pilot the program beginning this fall.
The new program uses inquiry-based learning, which allows students to explore and problem solve while building knowledge and understanding of science concepts. Students study science through projects they work on independently and in collaboration with peers. Studies have shown that if implemented effectively, inquiry-based learning can lead to improvements in other areas, including math and reading, along with science.
"I'm thankful to Eli Lilly and Company Foundation for this huge commitment to our state’s future," said Tony Bennett, Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction. "By providing the tools our students need for learning, the Lilly Foundation is helping to ensure every Hoosier child has equal access to educational opportunities. Indiana has made science education a priority, and this funding will help our students prepare to join the state’s STEM-oriented work force.”
Currently, 150 schools have signed up for the coming school year's pilot program. "That translates to 1,100 teachers who will be trained this summer," said Bill Walker, executive director of I-STEM, which is a based at Purdue University.
"Those teachers will expose more than 40,000 students to inquiry-based science learning during the pilot year. That level of interest shows that Indiana educators are ready to move forward in this critical area."
The Lilly Foundation award includes $500,000 as a challenge grant to encourage other businesses to provide funding.
"There's an urgent need for broad improvement in science and math education in our grade schools and high schools so that young Americans have an opportunity to participate in the high-tech economy of the future," said John C. Lechleiter, chairman, president and CEO of Eli Lilly and Co. "Those of us in the private sector must take an active role to ensure our teachers and students have the support they need. We at Lilly will do our part, and I encourage my business colleagues to become more involved as well in this effort that is so vital to our future."
Among the organizations actively supporting the effort to bring inquiry-based science learning to the state's schools is BioCrossroads, Indiana's initiative to advance the life sciences.
“Indiana’s life sciences industry is now positioned to put Hoosiers to work in exciting jobs for years to come, so long as we are learning the right science and math skills," said David Johnson, BioCrossroads CEO. "The Lilly Foundation’s generous grant will further enable and accelerate the I-STEM Resource Network in making sure that our students today are getting the science and math education they will need for these jobs of tomorrow.”
I-STEM is a partnership of public and private higher education institutions, K-12 schools, businesses, and government working to implement STEM literacy for all students. It also provides Indiana education leaders with new knowledge about STEM teaching and learning.
More information on the science initiative can be found at https://www.indianascience.org. More information on I-STEM can be found at https://www.istemnetwork.org
Writer: J udith Barra Austin, 765-494-2432, jbaustin@purdue.edu
Sources: Bill Walker, 765-494-5890, wswalker@purdue.edu
Rob Smith, Lilly Foundation president, 317-277-1302, smith_robert_lee@lilly.com
Tony Bennett, 317-232-6610
David Johnson, 317-238-2450