NSF Places Prominent Scientists & Engineers in Middle Schools

More than 240 of the nation’s leading scientists and engineers, including 14 Nobel laureates, will begin sharing their passion for discovery with middle school students across the nation as a result of the “Scientists and Engineers in the Schools” program. Announced last week, the program is a new initiative of the National Science Foundation.

To reach students around the country as role models and mentors, the award-winning scientists and engineers will visit local middle schools during the 50th Anniversary year of the National Science Foundation (April 2000 to May 2001). In addition to the Nobel Laureates, 14 Medal of Science winners, 7 Medal of Technology recipients, 11 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientist & Engineers awardees, 186 CAREER recipients, and 8 A.T. Waterman award winners also have signed on to share their experiences with students throughout the country. The volunteer scientists and engineers reside in 37 states.

The purpose of these visits is to introduce students to the myriad opportunities science, engineering and technology afford them, and to foster more one-on-one interaction between professional scientists and students.

For more information, contact Kate Latta Hofherr at klatta@nsf.org More information is also available on a new NSF web site, http://www.nsfoutreach.org The web site is designed to educate the public about NSF’s role in bringing to fruition discoveries and innovations that have transformed the way Americans live and work. These "NSF-Nifty 50" discoveries include the Internet, Doppler Radar, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and fiber optics, among others.