SCOTT DOWNEY
Special to The Leader
One may think of Fredonia as primarily an arts college.
President Virginia Horvath says that Fredonia is not just an arts institution. She believes that Fredonia has had a long history of science since the 1960s.
“We have many graduates that have gone on to high paying jobs in science. [The arts] is a quick label, and we are not just an arts college.”
According to the Fredonia website, Michael Jabot, a professor of science education, has been chosen by NASA to become part of an international education team. His team will partner with NASA and its educational outreach mission to help link NASA Earth Science missions with classrooms around the world.
Unfortunately, Jabot is currently in Mexico and could not be reached for comment.
Bolstering American advances in science and innovation is NASA’s central strategy for strengthening the economy and increasing opportunities for Americans to secure high-paying jobs. As a result, the administration has placed a high priority on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education, making significant commitments to improve the quality of STEM education at all levels of engagement, NASA’s website said.
Also according to its website, in an effort to help maintain the United States’ global competitiveness, NASA’s education programs are structured to support the growth of NASA’s, as well as the nation’s, diverse STEM workforce; it helps develop STEM educators, engage and establish partnerships with institutions, and inspire and educate the public.
NASA will continue the agency’s tradition of investing in the nation’s education programs and supporting the country’s educators, who play a key role in preparing, inspiring, engaging and motivating the next generation.
Robert Lightfoot, the associate administrator of NASA, responded to the question, “What do you hope today’s STEM students will think of when they think of the word NASA?”
He said,
“I hope they think they want to come here and help us explore,” said Robert Lightfoot, associate administrator of NASA … We still lead the world in exploration.
“The world looks to us to be that leader. They want to join us in that journey. So it is our job to be that leader. It’s very important for us to take that role. Part of the leadership role is making sure the next generation is right there coming with us. So all of the Mission Directorates and Centers need to do their part to get them excited — get them excited about where we are going,” said Lightfoot.
“Education is the cornerstone to developing the workforce that will help us reach Mars in the 2030s, and to inspiring American leadership in innovation and exploration today,” NASA Deputy Administrator Dava Newman said.
According to Horvath, Fredonia is leading the way in STEM education, as judged by an outside consulting company called the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers.
“We are doing better than a lot of colleges, and with the new building we have high hopes that people will say, ‘Wow. I want to do research in this building,’” she said.
Students interested in an internship at NASA can look here for information and requirements
http://www.nasa.gov/offices/education/programs/index.html.