FOR  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

David Owens

1661 Park Rd. NW, Suite 201

Washington, DC 20010

Phone: 202-265-8280

www.thebannekerinstitute.org

dowens@catalystdc.org           

BANNEKER INSTITUTE LAUNCHES

“THE NETWORK OF NETWORKS”

Washington, DC- June 9, 2008- The Benjamin Banneker Institute for Science and Technology is mobilizing a vital new source of high quality science and mathematics education for under-resourced schools across the nation. 

Dubbed “The Network of Networks”, this resource will .pair working scientists with teachers in the classroom to co-teach science and math courses.  This strategy was launched on June 3^rd at a meeting of 70 scientists and educators on Capitol Hill.  Majority Whip James Clyburn served a Keynote Speaker. 

The Banneker Institute was formed under a Congressional mandate in 2003 to increase the number of African Americans involved in math and science.  In 2007, the Institute launched the Decade of Blacks in Science, a grass roots campaign to promote outreach efforts at the local level designed to draw young people into the sciences. The Network of Networks in a key element of this campaign. 

The Network of Networks is a collaboration between Black science membership organizations and educators  to increase the quality of science and math education available in educationally disadvantaged K-12 classrooms.  In addition, the Network will be used to mobilize Black scientists to add their voices to science policy debates on issues like national competitiveness, alternative energy, and global warming.  The Banneker Institute expects that these activities will provide encouraging examples to young African Americans considering careers in science, and, at the same time, will enhance the stature of Black scientists.  

The Network of Networks is part of a social networking trend that gives new meaning to connectivity.  It will be featured at the 2008 Benjamin Banneker Awards Gala on November 21^st in Washington, DC.  Visit www.thebannekerinstitute.org to learn more.