[ILoveScience-santarosa] Science program kicks off third year

[Megan Pratt]

Note the training date--August 27 at 5:30 pm at Gulf Power. This is the one that we hope all will come to, the annual orientation for school volunteers.
Megan
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Gulf Power   Company News  

For immediate   release – August 12, 2008  

Media note:   Contact Megan Pratt (850-202-4441) at IHMC if you have questions about the   program.  

   

I   LOVE Science looking for volunteers  

   

I LOVE Science (Increasing Local   Opportunities for Volunteers Enthusiastic about Science) is looking for   volunteers interested in leading monthly, one hour hands-on science activities   in fifth-grade classrooms during the 2008-2009 school year. Training for   volunteers will be on August 27 at 5:30 pm at the Gulf Power Corporate Office on   Bayfront   Parkway.  

I LOVE Science was launched in 2006   to increase the frequency of hands-on science activities in our schools, to   inspire future scientists and to improve FCAT science scores.     

It was created by a partnership   between the Gulf Power Company, the Florida Institute for Human and Machine   Cognition (IHMC), former state Rep. Holly Benson, and the Escambia and   Santa Rosa   County School   Districts.  

"It is critical that the youth of   today develop an interest in and curiosity about science and engineering," said   Susan Story, president & CEO of Gulf Power Company. "We need to help them   build on that interest through education that prepares them for high quality   careers in a future that will require those skills."  

Volunteers are partnered directly   with classroom teachers in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. They are given activity   guides, materials and training on the lessons. Volunteers do not need to be   scientists; they just need to care about science   education.  

Students and teachers give the   program high marks. Jill Mealy, a teacher at Ensley Elementary in Escambia, said, “Our students really look forward to our   volunteers’ visits. They enjoy the activities and having a fresh face come into   our room to work with them.”  

Many volunteers also enjoyed the   experience. “I was very pleased with the I LOVE Science program. The kids were   enthusiastic and interested in the experiments. I recommend this program highly   and encourage others to participate. It was a very rewarding experience and I   plan to do it again this year,” said Billy Daughdrill, a retired PJC professor.     

Evidence shows that participation in   hands-on activities increases students’ interest in and knowledge of science. In   addition, science role models can increase students’ interest in pursuing   scientific careers. Through this program, we are working together to build   Northwest Florida’s workforce of the   future.  

To volunteer, please contact Nancy   Stanley at nstanley at escambia.k12.fl.us or 850-439-2623 for an Escambia County school or Mary Johnson at   JohnsonME at mail.santarosa.k12.fl.us or 850-983-5108 for a Santa Rosa County school. Volunteers may choose any   school in either county or let the program coordinators help them   choose.  

For more information visit http://www.ihmc.us/community/ILOVEScience.  

Lynn   Erickson 
Supervisor of Corporate   Communications
850-444-6249, cell   850-293-4614       
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