Educators Peer Over Students’ Shoulders at Mich. Math Lab
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Banneker Newsletter May 2007
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The challenge ahead is real. Opportunities in the fields of math and science abound, and African Americans must be positioned to take advantage of them. |
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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR The Year of Blacks in Science, announced by the Benjamin Banneker Institute in 2006, served as a catalyst for galvanizing the collaborative spirit that is emerging around national efforts to increase the number of African Americans involved in math and science. The Benjamin Banneker Legacy Awards Gala held at the National Academy of Sciences in November of 2006 provided ample evidence of this growing spirit of collaboration. The observation has been made, and we agree, that focused activity over just one year is woefully inadequate to eliminate the many barriers to success that confront African Americans as they step into the realms of math and science. Therefore, in February of 2007, The Banneker Institute for Science and Technology announced the launch of the Decade of Blacks in Science. The vast untapped pool of talent and energy that exists in the Black community is a resource unique to America. We intend to provide the leadership required enable the community of interest to pursue a collaborative agenda that will draw that resource into the mainstream of scientific assets this nation can use to build national competitiveness. Presented below are number of opportunities for you to join us! We urge you to take advantage of this opportunity to respond to our call to action! THE BENJAMIN BANNEKER LEGACY AWARD
The second annual Benjamin Banneker Awards Gala is scheduled for November of 2007. Our theme this year is Celebrate Our Passion for Excellence! Sty tuned to the Banneker website for more information about this event. Click Here to Nominate a 2007 Benjamin Banneker Legacy Award Candidate
The Decade of Blacks in Science is a campaign to mobilize, co-ordinate and coalesce the humans and material recourses needed to solve the problem of the low level of participation of African Americans in STEM fields. It grew out of the Year of Blacks in Science declared by Catalyst in 2006, and is embarked upon in recognition of the amount of work it will take to close that gap between where we are and where we need to go. The response of the Black Science Community to this initiative has convinced us that we can move the needle of this important issue of national concern. The Decade of Blacks in Science has six programmatic components:
Join the Banneker Institute as a collaborating partner in pursuit of this important mission. The four possible levels of collaboration are: Click your level of interest to find out more. Click here for Year of Blacks in Science 2006-2007 Brochure. The National Math and Science Initiative The National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI), is a major new program designed to help America regain its global leadership position in technological innovation. This was launched by leaders in American education, this initiative is fueled by a $125,000,000 grant from The ExxonMobil Foundation. The creation of NMSI comes in response to the call for action by the National Academies’ 2005 blue ribbon panel report, Rising Above the Gathering Storm. According to the panel of 20 experts, improving American students’ performance in math and science coursework is the most effective way to increase the United States’ global competitiveness. NMSI is a non-profit entity created to raise funds for the improvement of math and science education in the U.S. They expect to receive additional support from other corporations and foundations as well. NMSI aims to scale-up two proven programs: training and incentive programs for AP® and pre-AP® courses and UTeach. The training and incentive programs include extensive training of teachers, identification and cultivation of lead teachers, additional time on task for students, and financial incentives based on academic results. UTeach is a program that encourages math and science majors to enter the teaching profession by offering an integrated degree plan, financial assistance, and early teaching experiences for undergraduates. Both programs are Texas-based initiatives that have demonstrated considerable success, the training and incentive programs in more than 60 Texas schools and UTeach at its founding site at the University of Texas at Austin. Over five years, schools with training and incentive programs for AP and pre-AP courses experienced three and four times more growth in students scoring 3 or higher on AP exams in math and science, respectively, than those Texas schools without the program. UTeach has doubled the number of UT-Austin students graduating with math and science teacher certification, and of their graduates who entered teaching four years ago, more than 80% are still teaching, compared with 60% four-year retention nationally. Click here for more information. Advisory Committee
The Banneker Institute Advisory Committee last met on January 26, 2007 at the Academy for Educational Development (AED). We appreciate all those who attended, and we value the information sharing that occurred.
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A Project of Catalyst |
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The Benjamin Banneker Legacy Award was created to recognize both institutions and individuals who have made and are continuing to make a significant contribution to the mission of increasing the number of African Americans involved in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields of study and professions. The Award was established not to honor scientists, but to honor those investing in increasing the pool of Black Scientists. Recipients may themselves be scientists, but they could also include corporations, non-profit organization, business and community leaders, educators and others who have occasion to affect the life choices that young people make. Five institutions and one individual are recognized annually. 2007 marks the introduction of the Benjamin Banneker Youth Legacy Award. Institutional Awards are granted to organizations and their internal champions who contribute significantly to the pursuit of the Banneker mission. Individual Awards are granted to persons who do so on their own initiative, through their own special efforts. The Benjamin Banneker Youth Legacy Award was created to provide recognition to young persons grades K-12 who excel both in science and in service to their communities.
The first awards were bestowed at the inaugural Benjamin Banneker Legacy Awards Gala in November of 2006. This event unleashed a very high energy collaborative spirit that we will rely on to carry the Banneker mission forward. Many of the corporations and organizations present at the Gala have their own programs designed to enhance the participation of African Americans in STEM fields. At the Gala they became a part of a community of like-mined individuals and organization and became convinced that, working together, we can and will move the needle on this important issue of national concern. We invite you to 
The Benjamin Banneker Institute for Science and Technology is governed by a volunteer Advisory Committee. The meetings of the Advisory Committee are for members only, but membership is open to all interested parties. Residency in Washington, DC is not required as teleconferencing is provided for all meetings. If you wish to join the Advisory Committee, please call our office at 202-265-8280. Meetings are on an as needed basis, but in any case are not more frequent than quarterly.