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February 22, 2000
For more information on these science news and feature story tips, please
contact the public information officer at the end of each item at (703)
292-8070.
Editor: Cheryl Dybas
Contents of this News Tip:
High school students nationwide are graduating with more courses in
science and math, according to a recent report from the Council of Chief
State School Officers, but teacher preparation and supply varies widely
by state. The report, which covers 1990 to 1998, was developed with the
support of the National Science Foundation (NSF) in cooperation with state
departments of education. It examined state-by-state trends in student
achievement, content and instruction, teacher preparation and supply,
and context and conditions of teaching. The report is valuable, says Larry
Suter, deputy director for research, evaluation and communication at NSF,
because "it shows that students are taking more courses in math and science
and performing better."
Among the report's findings is an increase in the national percentage
of high school students taking three years of math, up from 49 percent
in 1990 to 63 percent in 1998. During the same period, the report shows
the percentage of high school students taking three years of science increased
from 45 percent to 54 percent. Seven states - Nebraska, Massachusetts,
Kentucky, North Dakota, Missouri, Mississippi, and Maine - had more than
75 percent of high school students take three years of math by graduation. [Charlie
Drum]
For more information, see: http://www.ccsso.org/publication/publication.html
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NSF Director Rita Colwell told members of the House Basic Research Subcommittee
that the 2001 budget request for NSF is historic in two ways: "It is a
record-setting increase..and, best of all, reflects the lessons of history. "That
history, she pointed out, clearly shows that investment in leading-edge
science and engineering research and education must be "one of our highest
national priorities." Colwell called the strong economy "our best friend," because "it
ended the argument over whether the information revolution was just a
fad or was really a fundamental restructuring." As Alan Greenspan and
other economic and industry leaders have spoken about the role of science
and technology in the current economy, people have noticed what NSF has
been saying for years, Colwell said. "Industry R&D; may be growing at a
record rate, but its dependence on public investments is growing even
faster," Colwell pointed out. The subcommittee hearing was the first of
a series of hearings to discuss the President's request for a 17% increase
(to $4.6 billion) for fiscal year 2001 in NSF's budget. [Mary Hanson]
For the full testimony, see: http://www.nsf.gov/od/lpa/congress/hearingtest.htm
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In remote equatorial Africa, university students are now able to access
high-speed Internet service for the first time, thanks to a collaboration
between an African university and the Global Seismographic Network (GSN),
funded by NSF and run by the Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology
(IRIS).
IRIS scientists worked with officials in Gabon, Africa, to gain access
to seismic data from a newly installed GSN station near Franceville, Gabon.
With the help of the President of Gabon, the Universite des Sciences et
Techniques de Masuku cost-shared a satellite link for telemetering seismic
data. Seismic data from this remote region is now flowing to U.S. scientists,
and the first Internet access is available to the university and its medical
research center.
The new facility was dedicated on February 11, 2000. Says Rhett Butler
of IRIS, "This is the second time that IRIS and the GSN have brought the
Internet to a remote place. A few years ago, the GSN brought the first
Internet service to Mongolia, as well." Reaction in Gabon to having the
Internet, he maintains, "ranges from delighted to ecstatic. And IRIS scientists
are as happy to have data from this remote region at our fingertips." [Cheryl
Dybas] Top of Page
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