Science Education Receives $150,000 Grant from Pfizer Foundation
Campaign to retain student interest in sciences

SAN DIEGO – March 15, 2004 – San Diego, known for its vibrant science and technology community, is in danger of losing future generations of young scientists who lose interest in science and technology during their middle school years.

In a special ceremony Friday, three middle school students wearing white lab coats accepted, on behalf of San Diego science education, a $150,000 grant check from the Pfizer Foundation that will be used to launch the “San Diego Middle School Science Education Leadership Initiative” (MSSELI).

MSSELI is an initiative of The San Diego Foundation, created by The Foundation’s Science & Technology Working Group. MSSELI partners with The Foundation include the San Diego City Schools, the San Diego County Office of Education and the San Diego Science Alliance.

MSSELI will link real world science to middle school science education. By making science education more effective and compelling, MSSELI will help students retain an interest in science and technology, giving these students more career options. Having a greater array of career choices ultimately translates into an improved quality of life for these students.

MSSELI is a “science leadership academy” for 30 selected middle school science “teacher-leaders” in San Diego County. The academy will offer the teacher-leaders advanced science content, intensive instruction and leadership strategies. MSSELI then partners the teacher-leaders with scientists from the area’s scientific and technological institutions.

These teacher-leaders in turn will share what they have learned with other teachers, and with their students, to yield greater understanding and appreciation of the scientific process and the wide range of applications possible in today’s technology-driven world.

Kim Bess, director of science & technology with San Diego City Schools, said that MSSELI is an intense summer professional development program, as well as on-going training, that focuses on three areas: science, education and leadership. She believes that the MSSELI project is the “largest countywide project of its kind in the country.”

Bess said, “Research says that kids dramatically lose interest in science and math classes in the middle school. This is particularly true for women and underrepresented students. Even in an area like San Diego, home to many of the world’s top research institutions and nearly a dozen Nobel Prize winners, far too many students drop science, math and technology studies when they hit middle school. Disinterested students might renew their interest in science as teachers who go through the MSSELI program return to the classroom energized, inspired and able to share real insights into the lively world of science, math, technology and engineering.”

Presenting the grant check was Catherine “Kitty” Mackey, Ph.D., senior vice president and director of La Jolla Laboratories – Pfizer Global Research and Development.

Mackey said, “MSSELI will enhance the scientific education, the commitment and the energy of both science students and instructors in San Diego. Science and technology is essential to the continued well-being of the entire San Diego County and as a company involved in both the community and in advanced science, we are excited to be a part of this endeavor. We look forward to working with The Foundation and the MSSELI partners.”

Nancy Taylor, K-12 Science Coordinator of San Diego County Office of Education, said, “Throughout the 42 school districts in this region, there is a need to demonstrate and build leadership for effective science teaching. From Borrego, Bonsall and San Ysidro to Oceanside, Julian and San Diego, middle school science teachers need a professional community to determine the most effective approaches to science instruction. MSSELI shows that the business community is also motivated to develop partnerships to encourage both teachers and students to explore the applications of science learning.”

Ruth Patterson, director – Analysis & Strategy in Science & Technology and Health & Human Services at The San Diego Foundation said, “I’d like to thank the Science & Technology Working Group for applying great passion about science to long hours of hard work that created MSSELI. The working partnership of The Foundation with the San Diego City Schools, the San Diego County Office of Education and the San Diego Science Alliance puts all the right players together to make an effective, positive difference in the science education programs in our communities. The benefit to middle school students and science teachers promises to have a great and lasting impact upon students’ lives, as well as being an advantage for San Diego’s scientific community that serves the County’s greater economic health.”