MISSISSIPPI, NORTH CAROLINA PARTNERS IN NEUROSCIENCE EDUCATION WIN AWARD TO 37TH SOCIETY FOR NEUROSCIENCE MEETING IN SAN DIEGO
For immediate release.
NR-33-07 (10/31/07) For more information, please call DeeDee Clendenning at (202) 962-4000 or dclendenning@sfn.org
MISSISSIPPI, NORTH CAROLINA PARTNERS IN NEUROSCIENCE EDUCATION
WIN AWARD TO 37TH SOCIETY FOR NEUROSCIENCE MEETING IN SAN DIEGO
Matthew Sternfeld, a biology teacher at Madison Shannon Palmer High School in Marks, Miss., and Robert Rosenberg, PhD, of the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C., have received a Neuroscientist-Teacher partner Travel Award to attend the Society for Neuroscience (SfN) annual meeting in San Diego, Calif., November 3-7.
This partnership program in neuroscience of one neuroscientist and one teacher, sponsored by SfN, recognizes 13 pairs for their commitment and innovative approach to bringing neuroscience into the classroom.
Sternfeld has completed his first year as a biology teacher in Quitman County, Miss., with Teach for America, a program that places teachers in underprivileged school districts. Through frequent conversations with his scientist partner, Rosenberg, and visits to the Society's annual meeting, Matthew is aiming at broadening his knowledge of neuroscience and incorporating neuroscience into the classroom.
"During my first year of teaching, I received an e-mail from Bob, suggesting that I attend the annual Neuroscience meeting, knowing that it would be beneficial to me and my students," says Sternfeld. "When I got back to Marks I took a day of class to tell my students about some of the neuroscience that I saw. I believe my excitement transferred to them, but their interest in neuroscience faded over time because, unfortunately, the Mississippi State Curriculum does not include studies of the nervous system. (Quitman County, Miss., is the 41st poorest county in America)," says Sternfeld.
Attending the meeting will provide Sternfeld the opportunity to gain insight on how to mix neuroscience with the curriculum he has to teach.
In addition to receiving unlimited access to the meeting's thousands of sessions and forums, the awardees have been invited to attend a number of special events. Sternfeld, Rosenberg, and the other educators will also be honored at a meeting of SfN's Public Education and Communication Committee.
The goal of the award is to further partnerships between research and educational communities. "The travel award program is an example of the Society's commitment to explaining basic scientific processes -- how research leads to discovery and how discovery leads to treatments, cures, and healthy choices at all stages in life," says Society for Neuroscience Public Education Director, Colleen McNerney. "This program provides encouragement and visibility to the Society's members to embrace and contribute to this work, demonstrating the value of scientists and teachers working in partnership."
Roughly 30,000 scientists from around the world will attend SfN's annual meeting to present and discuss the latest advances in neuroscience research. The meeting will feature more than 16,400 presentations covering topics ranging from stem cell research to basic human behavior.
The Society for Neuroscience, with more than 38,000 members, is the largest organization of researchers and clinicians studying the brain and nervous system.
