The Year of Blacks in Science

It has been awhile! Note our new letterhead! This powerful image will grace all future Banneker Institute communications.

You will recall that the last newsletter announced the Year of Blacks in Science. We are pleased to report that the Department of Commerce, the Department of Education and the Department of Labor as well as several corporations have responded to this initiative. The time frame has been extended to 2007 and the campaign consists essentially of locally-driven action-oriented outreach programs designed to provide students with opportunities to engage in hands-on activities that foster interest and excitement. Research has shown that these types of experiences are important for students whose exposure to science has been limited. To catalyze this movement, the Banneker Institute will support the chartering of at least ten new Junior chapters of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) in ten major cities across the nation. Chicago, Detroit, New York, Birmingham, Memphis, Columbus, Philadelphia, Oakland, New Orleans and Jacksonville have been identified as having the mix of need and leadership that would enable NSBE Jr. chapters to succeed.
 

Benjamin Banneker Awards Gala

You will be receiving formal invitations shortly, but we wanted to give you advance notice of the awards gala scheduled for November 17, 2006 and to invite you to attend. The Gala celebrates the Banneker Institute’s mission of increasing the number of African Americans involved in math and science. We are very excited to have secured the National Academy of Sciences as the venue for this ceremony. The awards gala was part of the strategy mapped out at our inaugural event on November 17, 2004. We continue to march through the agenda you and your colleagues set at that time and we look forward to your continued involvement.

In fact, we want to hear from you now. The Banneker Awards Gala will recognize and honor five organizations and one individual who have made noteworthy contributions to the Banneker Institute’s mission. Please visit (www.thebannekerinstitute.org) to nominate individuals and organizations whose work you believe deserves recognition.

While there you can also register for the Gala! Please note that there are two ticket options offered. The first includes seating at the awards ceremony and cocktails and dessert at a jazz reception following the presentation. Tickets are $75. The second includes a formal dinner before the awards ceremony, preferred seating at the awards ceremony and covers the jazz reception as well. Tickets are $250. Seating is limited so register early. The Year of Blacks in Science is a very exciting campaign and we invite your active engagement.