Thursday, March 10, 2005

A program that makes science education more accessible and engaging to middle school students has received a second grant of $150,000 from the Pfizer Foundation.

The San Diego Middle School Science Education Leadership Initiative, launched last year, provides teaching instruction and strategies to 30 science teachers in the county. The initiative also partners teachers with scientists for one-on-one instructional sessions.

The goal is to offer compelling science and technology programs to students, to pique their interest in science, and to present a broad array of options in the work force.

The program is an initiative of the San Diego Foundation, with partners San Diego City Schools, the San Diego County Office of Education and the San Diego Science Alliance.

Philanthropic giant San Diego Foundation currently manages over $464 million in 1,050 separate funds. Last year, the foundation distributed more than $47 million to local nonprofit organizations.

This article was reprinted with the permission of the San Diego Daily Transcript, www.sddt.com