"As an engineering and design firm in Huntingdon, PA, it has become increasingly difficult to find local career applicants with the high tech skills necessary to fulfill our current requirements. Science-In-Motion, as operated at Juniata College, has made a significant impact in creating student interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math as a course of further study and as a career path. We are proud to support Science in Motion in their valuable work."
-- Lynn Conaway, Sales & Marketing Manager, John R. Wald Co.
Accomplished link
Science In Motion (SIM) brought excellent hands-on, inquiry-based science experiences to many thousands of students in Pennsylvania in 2013, and these students tend to outperform their peers in standard tests of science. With enough support, SIM's visiting educators could make 58,000 visits to classrooms next year, and even more in in following years.
SIM offers a very cost-effective way of getting hands-on science into schools. One university can support one subject area, such as Chemistry, in at least 10 schools for $200,000 a year--roughly $600,000 less than what it would cost if each school independently purchased SIM resources and services. Unfortunately, deep cuts in state funding for SIM have forced the program to contract in recent years, despite its strong track record of success in Pennsylvania schools.
Funders and PartnersThe Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (funder) and the Pennsylvania Department of Education (partner)
Leslie Leckvarcik, Director and Mobile Educator
leckval@juniata.edu
814-641-3665
The programs in this database clear a high bar. STEMworks reviewed each program against the Design Principles for Effective STEM Philanthropy.
Identify and target a compelling and well-defined need.
Use rigorous evaluation to continuously measure and inform progress towards the compelling need identified.
Ensure work is sustainable.
Demonstrate replicability and scalability.
Create high impact partnerships
Ensure organizational capacity to achieve goals.
Offer challenging and relevant STEM content for the target audience
Incorporate and encourage STEM practices.
Inspire interest and engagement in STEM.
Identify and address the needs of under-represented groups.