TMCnet News
UNI's Ben Allen to co-chair new science, math education advisory council [Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, Iowa](Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier (IA) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) July 27--To view the 2011 Iowa STEM Roadmap, click here. DES MOINES -- Gov. Terry Branstad created a new math and science education advisory council by signing Executive Order 74 into law during a packed Statehouse news conference Tuesday. Branstad tapped University of Northern Iowa President Benjamin Allen to co-chair the council along with Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds. "I firmly believe that STEM education and STEM professions are important," said Allen, along with his wife Pat, funds an endowment at UNI for female students in math and science. "This is so important for the future of our state and for employment opportunities in our state." Branstad will appoint people from business sectors such as advanced manufacturing, agribusiness, biotechnology, clean energy and health care, as well as educators and state employees to the 40-person council in the coming weeks. Called the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Advisory Council, the group will be guided by the 2011 Iowa STEM Roadmap, which was developed by STEM leaders under the direction of the Iowa Mathematics and Science Education Partnership at UNI. The 28-page strategic plan outlines how the state can develop a more inclusive STEM program and a larger pool of future workers. "We all know that science, technology, engineering and math, collectively known as STEM fields, are more important than ever before in the 21st century," Branstad said. "STEM jobs pay better than average and promise to drive innovation in the future ... these are good-paying jobs, and they are jobs that, I think, Iowa is very well positioned for." Reynolds, in a prepared released, said the council's goals "should include dramatically raising student achievement in STEM, better preparing math and science teachers and mapping STEM education to economic development so we foster more innovation in research and entrepreneurship." Jeff Weld, Iowa Mathematics and Science Education Partnership director, said currently STEM opportunities for Iowa students are "hit or miss." "We have brilliant things going on at Hawkeye and UNI and in the corridor region of Cedar Rapids, and Des Moines and the Quad-Cities. There are wonderful pockets of school-day programs and after-school and summer programming that has reached kids," he said. "But we need to scale these programs across the state. And these aren't just geographic impediments. There is also an inequity with regards to gender and race." Allen, who attended the signing, said he was honored to serve and credited Weld's work at the university. "I am confident that our effort will greatly increase the number of inspired, successful STEM students, teachers and professionals that will lead the economic development of this state's future," Allen said. He expects the council to begin work as soon as the members are appointed. He believes the scope of their mission is "so larger there will be plenty to do for years to come." ___ To see more of the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.wcfcourier.com/. Copyright (c) 2011, Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, Iowa Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com, e-mail [email protected], or call 866-280-5210 (outside the United States, call +1 312-222-4544) |