BHEF Supports Launch of National Lab Day

200 Organizations, 6.5 Million Professionals Partner in Effort to Reinvigorate Science and Math Education in the Nation’s Schools and Lead to Increased U.S. Competitiveness

Washington, DC (November 23, 2009) — The Business-Higher Education Forum (BHEF) joined a coalition of educators, science and engineering associations, philanthropies and other organizations November 23 for the launch of National Lab Day, a new grassroots initiative designed to reinvigorate science and math education in the nation’s schools and after-school programs and lead to increased U.S. competitiveness.

President Obama applauded the education initiative and others in a Nov. 23 speech at the White House (read news release here) that was attended by BHEF Executive Director Brian K. Fitzgerald.

“Lifting American students from the middle to the top of the pack in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) achievement over the next decade will not be attained by government alone,” President Obama said. “I applaud the substantial commitments made today by the leaders of companies, universities, foundations, non-profits and organizations representing millions of scientists, engineers and teachers from across the country.”

National Lab Day aims to inspire a wave of future innovators and foster U.S. competitiveness by improving the quality STEM education in America. A collaboration between government and more than 200 public- and private-sector organizations, National Lab Day will connect students in grades 6-12 to hands-on learning experiences and promote tinkering in laboratory settings.

National Lab Day will promote hands-on learning throughout the year and culminate each year with special events the first week of May. Volunteer science and technology professionals and educators will work together with students to improve America’s science labs and offer inquiry-based STEM experiences in classrooms, learning labs, and after-school programs.

“America’s advantage over its international counterparts in science, technology, and innovation is diminishing,” says BHEF’s Fitzgerald. “We at BHEF, through our Securing America’s Leadership in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Initiative, work to ensure that America remains a global leader. In fact, our goal is to double the number of U.S. students who graduate in STEM fields by 2015. We are excited to be a part of such a crucial effort as National Lab Day.”

A major component of the BHEF STEM initiative is its U.S. STEM Education model, which provides in an open-source environment the first-ever simulation and modeling tool for the U.S. STEM education system and enables researchers, policymakers, and educators to explore scenarios that can strengthen U.S. STEM education and workforce outcomes. learn more about the model here.

Learn more at www.NationalLabDay.org.