General News

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (TheStreet) -- ExxonMobil(XOM Quote), Microsoft(MSFT Quote) and Amgen (AMGN Quote) are among companies that sponsor a summer program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology that's designed to teach whiz kids that brilliant scientific minds can yield lucrative careers.

It used to be that learning science was an end in itself. Not always at MIT, whose alumni helped found companies including Intel (INTC Quote), Texas Instruments (TXN Quote), Genentech (DNA Quote) and Harmonix, maker of the "Rock Band" video game and a unit of Viacom (VIA Quote).

The Swine Flu Solution: Fund the Best Minds in Science

By Joann P. DiGennaro : 04 Jun 2009

Spurred by the spread of swine flu, President Barack Obama recently called for more than 3 percent of our nation's GDP to be spent on research and development, saying "[T]his represents the largest commitment to scientific research and innovation in American history."

The president noted that the swine flu scare demonstrates that "one thing is clear: our capacity to deal with a public health challenge of this sort rests heavily on the work of our scientific and medical community. And this is one more example of why we can't allow our nation to fall behind."

But falling behind we are. The critical reason is the significant deficiencies in teaching science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) skills in the United States. Look at the facts:

Center for Excellence in Education:Need for better laboratory skills
Tuesday, May 12th, 2009

By Courtney Ann Jackson - Talk Radio News Service

The President of the Center for Excellence in Education, Joann DiGennaro, explains the need for better laboratory skills among high school students and what they are doing to help the problem. (1:34)

Click here to listen to the audio.

Lift Off to Better Science Education
Posted by Staff on May 12, 2009

By Courtney Ann Jackson- Talk Radio News

A boost in math and science education is important for today’s youth according to the Center for Excellence in Education. The Center’s Research Science Institute is the only cost-free for selected students to attend. The Center’s annual Capitol Hill luncheon Tuesday featured an example of the ultimate rise within the sciences field.

The keynote speaker and CEE Trustee was 2006 Nobel Prize Recipient in Physics , Dr. John Mather, who discussed his experiences in the field and his current projects. “I knew from childhood that science was interesting…My parents read to my sister and to me from biographies of Galileo and Darwin,” Mather said.

CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION’S RSI ALUMNUS TAKES FIRST PLACE IN INTEL COMPETITION

Four RSI Alumni Place in Top 10 at Prestigious Intel Science Talent Search

McLean, Virginia – March 13, 2009 – The Center for Excellence in Education (CEE) announces that 2008 Research Science Institute (RSI) Alumnus, Eric Kerner Larson of South Eugene High School in Eugene, OR was awarded the $100,000 first place scholarship in the prestigious Intel Science Talent Search. Eric was selected for his innovative research in mathematics concerning the classification of integral fusion categories.

Mr. Larson began his research at RSI under the guidance of Professor Pavel Etingof and David Jordan of the MIT Mathematics Department. RSI helps nurture young scholars to careers of excellence and leadership in science, technology, engineering, and math.

10 RESEARCH SCIENCE INSTITUTE ALUNMI NAMED FINALISTS IN THE INTEL SCIENCE TALENT SEARCH 2009

CEE’s RSI Alumni Represent 25% of Intel Science Talent Search Finalists

McLean, Virginia – January 29, 2009 The Center for Excellence in Education (CEE) announced that 10 students of its Research Science Institute (RSI) class of 2008 are among the 40 finalists in the highly esteemed Intel Science Talent Search. The RSI alumni represent this nation’s highest achieving scholars in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

United States Scores Big at International Biology Olympiad

McLean, Va., July 21, 2008 – The Center for Excellence in Education (CEE) announced today the four member Team USA took home four gold medals at the International Biology Olympiad held in Mumbai, India. Fifty-five nations competed in this prestigious competition. For the second year in a row, the U.S. team garnered world recognition.

The U.S. gold medal winners at IBO 2008 are:

• Jonathan Gootenberg, Montgomery Blair High School, Rockville, MD
• David Huang, Charter School of Wilmington, Hockessin, DE
• Seungsoo Kim, Mountain View High School, Vancouver, WA
• Jonathan Liang, Thomas S. Wootton High School, North Potomac, MD

CEE is pleased to declare that every U.S. team member has medaled in the international competition since 2003, bringing home sixteen gold, six silver and two bronze medals.

Science and Technology in the Next Generation

McLean, VA, September 22, 2008— The Center for Excellence in Education (CEE) and Booz Allen Hamilton will host a panel discussion, From Education to Enterprise: Science and Technology in the Next Generation. The discussion will take place on Friday, September 26, 2008, from 12:00 to 1:00 pm in Booz Allen’s Newman Auditorium at 8283 Greensboro Drive in McLean, VA, followed by a reception. Participants can also attend remotely via a live webcast.

The rapid pace of scientific and technologic advances has dramatically increased the importance of education as the engine of the modern, globally competitive enterprise. The distinguished members of this panel will discuss the vital issue of science and technology education, and answer questions as part of the moderated session.