BtSM-news

Latest update: June 13, 2007

News items posted by members of the BtSM community

Name of member who posted the item and date posted Up to 10-word description of item Rationale about why the item is considered relevant to (part of) the BtSM community

Jan Visser
(June 13, 2007)

Report High Level Group on Science Education in Europe

From email received from the European Commission:

On 12 June 2007, Michel Rocard, former French prime minister and Member of the European Parliament since 1994, presented to Janez Potocnik the Commissioner for Research, and his colleague Ján Figel', Commissioner for Education, Training, and Culture the final report and recommendations of the expert group on Science Education he has been chairing for the past six months. Three years after the publication of the so called "Gago-report", which launched the debate on the problem of human resources in Science and Technology, this expert group was requested to look at actions destined to combat the declining interest in science studies among young people. Europe's capacity to innovate and the quality of its research depend on the choices being made now at schools across Europe and too few pupils are selecting key science subjects.

Please find attached for your consideration the Report of the expert group together with a letter signed by Jean-Michel Baer, Director of the European Commission's Directorate – Science, economy and society. We would be very pleased and grateful if you could disseminate this important report amongst the members of the Learning Development Institute.

Jan Visser
(June 10, 2007)
Career Trek wins Michael Smith Award for Science Promotion

Career Trek participated actively in BtSM2007 through Darrell Cole. On June 8, 2007, Dr. Suzanne Fortier, President of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), announced that Career Trek, a local organization that reaches out to children with perceived barriers to educational success, has won the Michael Smith Award for Science Promotion (group category). More at http://www.nserc.gc.ca/news/2007/p070608.htm.

Congratulations to Darrell Cole and his team!

Jan Visser
(June 7, 2007)
Brownback op-ed article on "What I think about evolution"

This article was mentioned by Paul Horwitz and was referred to by various participants during the last day of BtSM2007. It also relates to the debate we had at the roundtable on the 'Threats to Nurturing the Scientific Mind in Today's World.' Those interested in reading Sam Brownback's thoughts can find the article at http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/31/opinion/ 31brownback.html?_r=1&oref=slogin. For the same reason you may find Jerry Coyne's recent contribution to The Edge on 'Don't know much biology' of interest (available at http://www.edge.org/documents/archive/ edge212.html#coyne).

Latest update: June 13, 2007 News items posted by members of the BtSM community
Name of member who posted the item and date posted	Up to 10-word description of item	Rationale about why the item is considered relevant to (part of) the BtSM community

Jan Visser (June 13, 2007)	Report High Level Group on Science Education in Europe	From email received from the European Commission: On 12 June 2007, Michel Rocard, former French prime minister and Member of the European Parliament since 1994, presented to Janez Potocnik the Commissioner for Research, and his colleague Ján Figel', Commissioner for Education, Training, and Culture the final report and recommendations of the expert group on Science Education he has been chairing for the past six months. Three years after the publication of the so called "Gago-report", which launched the debate on the problem of human resources in Science and Technology, this expert group was requested to look at actions destined to combat the declining interest in science studies among young people. Europe's capacity to innovate and the quality of its research depend on the choices being made now at schools across Europe and too few pupils are selecting key science subjects. Please find attached for your consideration the Report of the expert group together with a letter signed by Jean-Michel Baer, Director of the European Commission's Directorate – Science, economy and society. We would be very pleased and grateful if you could disseminate this important report amongst the members of the Learning Development Institute.
Jan Visser (June 10, 2007)	Career Trek wins Michael Smith Award for Science Promotion	Career Trek participated actively in BtSM2007 through Darrell Cole. On June 8, 2007, Dr. Suzanne Fortier, President of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), announced that Career Trek, a local organization that reaches out to children with perceived barriers to educational success, has won the Michael Smith Award for Science Promotion (group category). More at http://www.nserc.gc.ca/news/2007/p070608.htm. Congratulations to Darrell Cole and his team!
Jan Visser (June 7, 2007)	Brownback op-ed article on "What I think about evolution"	This article was mentioned by Paul Horwitz and was referred to by various participants during the last day of BtSM2007. It also relates to the debate we had at the roundtable on the 'Threats to Nurturing the Scientific Mind in Today's World.' Those interested in reading Sam Brownback's thoughts can find the article at http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/31/opinion/ 31brownback.html?_r=1&oref=slogin. For the same reason you may find Jerry Coyne's recent contribution to The Edge on 'Don't know much biology' of interest (available at http://www.edge.org/documents/archive/ edge212.html#coyne).