Federal Education Initiatives (USGS)

(what’s happening, why it’s happening, where we fit in, what we need to do)

AGI Government Affairs Advisory Committee Meeting

October 1, 2005

Robert W. Ridky National Education Coordinator U.S. Geological Survey

Only 2 Federal Agencies Have Anything About Education In Their Authorizing Language

 

Department of AgricultureDepartment of CommerceDepartment of DefenseDepartment of EnergyDepartment of Health and Human Services

Department of Homeland SecurityDepartment of Housing and Urban Development

Department of the InteriorDepartment of the InteriorDepartment of LaborDepartment of State

USGS Mission

Providing the Nation with reliable scientific information and analysis.

Biology

Hydrology

Geology

Geography

Educational Materials from the U.S. Geological Survey

Culture Counts…

We must distribute our understandings among the people. How shall it be done?

(May 1890)

began career in one room schoolhouse teaching for seven years

Mission and Strategic Goals of USGS Education

“Education and research are always in the public service and therefore are inextricably bound at all levels”

Shake Maps…beyond magnitude andepicenter

Opportunities For Citizen Participation

Collaborative Efforts

“To serve as a forum that fosters teamwork with USGS in conducting watershed assessment, identifying priority protection measures, educating affected interests, and promoting practices that protect the Watershed.”

“ To obtain data of the highest possible quality, rigorous sampling protocols are being developed, and personnel from the USGS are training volunteers, many of whom are Thompson Valley School students … ”

Partnerships - working with societies in the development of instructional materials.

Partnerships – working with sister agencies

“ ...it is essential that all students be given the opportunity to study earth science as an integral part of their education.”

Joint Statement to the American PublicChip Groat, USGSVice Admiral Conrad Lautenbacher, Jr. NOAA

“For the first time in our nation’s history, we have a call to action, a dramatic call for change, and one that specifically states that all students, at all grade levels, should receive earth science instruction.” National Research Council

Earth SciencePhysical Science Life Science

“Geoscientists Defend Earth Science in Texas”

And From California…

“Implementation guidelines failed to live up to standards’ treatment of earth science.”

What we had and still need

• School districts - 14,571

Provide Student Opportunities: The K-12 “Consumer” Market

• Schools - 92,012

• K-12 Teachers - 2.9 million

• K-12 Enrollment - 46.9 million

• 9-12 Enrollment - 13.1 million

• 7-12 Teachers - 1.03 million

Number of Earth Science Teachers (7-12)

Year Biology Chemistry Earth Science Physics

‘95 80,083 32,771 36,493 21,986 ‘96 77,518 32,292 35,767 21,560 ‘97 59,135 26,722 28,552 17,731 ‘99 49,848 23,649 24,657 15,704 ‘00 43,647 21,512 22,709 14,341 ‘01 41,893 28,481 20,147 12,526 ‘02 36,830 19,332 17,658 12,856

Note: Geology includes geology, geochemistry, geophysics and seismologyDigest of Educational Statistics, ’03 (only data available; full publication in preparation)

Table 172: Total fall enrollments, 1970 - 2003

1970 8,580,887

1975 11,184,859

1980 12,096,895

1985 12,247,055

1990 13,818,637

1995 15,312,289

2003 15,756,000

Source: NCES Digest of Educational Statistics, pubs 2003

If you look at it this way, it looks like we’re doing better…

In general, the Administration will favor investments in Federal R&D programs that:

• strengthen science, mathematics, and engineering education by enhancing access and broad availability of excellent educational programs, establishing and encouraging best educational practices, and integrating research and education.

National Science and Technology Council Committee on Science Report of the Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee

Priority Recommendation:

• Provide Authorizing language to Federal R&D agencies to implement STEM education programs in support of their respective mission, and increase STEM student & faculty access to R&D facilities

Representation on Interagency Committees

“ The bill includes:

… $169 million for National Aeronautics and Space Administration education programs, which is $2 million above the request. The bill also includes $28.9 million for a new consolidated education program for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. ”

And in the ’06 Budget …

The Challenges…

• “Education” conjures up a host of operational meanings arising from one’s own values and experiences.

• Natural human instinct to “hunker down,” “protect thecore,” during tough times, even though evidence points to the contrary.

Crisis in New Orleans or Banda Ache is primarily one of education