The current community-based program has three components:
First, a community-based effort to promote the advancement of science education and science and math literacy through hands-on, inquiry-centered experiential learning in grades from kindergarten-12.
Second, BLAST Pre-K, an innovative program for child care centers to increase the readiness for exploration and learning about science and the world around them for young children even before they enter kindergarten. This program has been piloted with curricula initially at the company's own child development/child care centers and is now moving out into the community.
And third, a new effort called the RxeSEARCH Educational Initiative delivers an innovative curriculum and a set of hands-on learning experience to educate today's youth and future leaders about how medicines are made. It follows the complexities of the pharmaceutical development process, from initial discoveries to therapies delivered to patients. Along the way, students and teachers integrate and enhance skills and knowledge in chemistry, biology, mathematics, social studies and the language arts in an integrated approach. PhRMA, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, representing the research-based U.S. pharmaceutical industry, is taking the lead in bringing the concept and the curriculum to more schools through collaborations with additional pharmaceutical companies. In addition to Bristol-Myers Squibb, which developed the initial curriculum and program, among the other companies participating are Schering-Plough, focusing on a Newark high school; Wyeth, working in schools in Iowa; GlaxoSmithKline, focusing on schools in the Philadelphia area, and Johnson & Johnson. They are also working alongside the Museum of Contemporary Science in Trenton, New Jersey, and the Healthcare Institute of New Jersey. Thus far, the program also has attracted the participation of a number of school districts to pilot the program among some of their high school students. In New Jersey, they include Montgomery Township, Monmouth County, Newark, New Brunswick, Princeton, West-Windsor-Plainsboro and Hopewell. In addition, a high school in Staten Island, NY, three teachers working in the Philadelphia School District, and science educators representing seven Iowa high schools are participating. Thus far, the initiative has been broadened to five states and some 19 school districts.
In 1983, 1997 and again in 2000, studies reported that U.S. students were well behind other countries in their science capabilities. Most notably, responding to the initial 1983 report, "A Nation at Risk," government and private agencies began working to develop new partnerships and initiatives that would lead to enhanced science literacy. In order to address this issue, beginning more than 10 years ago, Bristol-Myers Squibb has engaged national experts in science education and regional academic centers of excellence to provide teacher preparation and curriculum development services for K-12 teachers. These services focus on new curricula, materials and training that help ensure hands-on, experiential learning for students: learning through problem solving and, ultimately, by doing. The company's own scientists serve as content experts and role models in the "practice of science."
Bristol-Myers Squibb has a long history of supporting science education through funding and direct involvement by its scientists in the pre-college classroom. Through its Science Education Program, the company is taking a strong leadership role to actively strengthen science education in elementary and middle school classrooms regionally, nationally and even internationally. The goal of this coordinated reform effort, closely aligned with National Science Education Standards, is to replace traditional textbook instruction with inquiry-centered, hands-on teaching and learning of science, in which students practice problem solving, analysis and critical thinking by the systematic exploration of scientific concepts. As defined by the National Science Resources Center (NSRC)-the leading architect of systemic science education reform and a key partner with Bristol-Myers Squibb in this effort-five elements are critical for successful reform: an exemplary curriculum; teacher preparation and professional development; curriculum materials services; assessment; and community partnerships. This central concept for systemic improvement of education, developed by the NSRC in response to "A Nation at Risk," is uniformly applicable in both public and independent schools and therefore constitutes a guiding principle in Bristol-Myers Squibb's Science Education efforts.
Improved science literacy in the U.S. is important for many reasons: It can fuel the economy by strengthening general workforce skills. It can increase opportunities for developing better products and services in all areas of society. It can help position the workforce in the United States to better compete in a global economy, and secure jobs in this country for U.S.-educated scientists. It can specifically broaden and deepen the global talent pool available to the science-based sector of industry, academia and government. And it helps raise the level of science literacy among the general population of consumers of science-based products, preparing citizens to make informed decisions in matters regarding their health, safety and well-being.