Building a Presence for Science

Complete and disseminate by fax and/or mail to newspaper education reporters, television assignment editors, cable program directors, and radio station news directors in your state a few days in advance of your event. Fill in the blanks and adapt to your event.

Print on appropriate letterhead:

Contact: ____________ (name of knowledgeable person)
____________ (phone, fax, e-mail)
Date: ____________ (day this is mailed)

MAJOR SCIENCE EDUCATION INITIATIVE BEGINS IN ____________ (state name)

On ____________ (day, month, date), at the ____________ (location), educators, elected officials, and industry representatives will launch a major science education initiative administrated through the National Science Teachers Association and funded by the ____________ (funding source, such as ExxonMobil Foundation). The program, Building a Presence for Science, is establishing a state network in ______ (state) to provide teachers with more professional development, to network science teachers and to promote inquiry-based science teaching and learning.

The program’s major goal is effective implementation of the National Science Education Standards combined with _________ (name the state science education standards). State education leaders plan to bring the benefits of Building a Presence into every classroom in the state within three years.

WHAT: Briefing to announce launching a Building a Presence for Science network in ______ (state)

WHEN: ____________ (month, date, year, time)

WHERE: ____________ (room, other useful information such as building entrance location, parking availability, etc.)

WHO: ____________ (names and titles of speakers)

Founded in 1944, the National Science Teachers Association is the world’s largest organization dedicated to improving science education at all levels-preschool through college. The Association’s membership of more than 53,000 includes science teachers, science supervisors, administrators, scientists, business and industry representatives, and others actively involved in science education.

(insert background information on funders, such as this paragraph) ExxonMobil Foundation has contributed more than $6 million to the Building a Presence for Science program. ExxonMobil Foundation is the primary philanthropic arm of the Exxon Mobil Corporation in the United States. The Foundation engages in a broad range of philanthropic activities focusing on the communities where Exxon Mobil Corporation has significant operations. In addition, the Foundation supports research and dissemination on selected topics of national interest to the energy industry. Focus areas include education, health and environment. In 2001, ExxonMobil Foundation, Exxon Mobil Corporation, and its divisions and affiliates provided more than $126 million in contributions worldwide.