White House Launches New Campaign to Foster Interest in Math and Science

 On Monday the White House launched "Educate to Innovate," a new campaign which enlists companies and nonprofit groups in an effort to encourage students to pursue careers in math, science, technology, and engineering.

The focus is mainly on activities outside the classroom.  For example Discovery's Science Channel and Sesame Street will be dedicating commercial-free, after school programming to science topics and the MacArthur Foundation will be running contests to develop video games to teach the sciences.

 The campaign also includes two websites; www.connectamillionminds.com provides a searchable directory of local science activities, and www.nationallabday.org, a site that matches scientists willing to volunteer with teachers who want to incorporate their skills into the classroom.

 "You know the success we seek is not going to be attained by government alone," said the President on Monday. "It depends on the dedication of students, parents, and the commitment of private citizens, organizations, and companies."

 According to an article in The New York Times, the initiatives of the campaign are financed almost entirely by the participating companies and foundations and not the government.

 The President also announced an annual science fair at the White House. “If you win the N.C.A.A. championship, you come to the White House,” he said. “Well, if you’re a young person and you’ve produced the best experiment or design, the best hardware or software, you ought to be recognized for that achievement, too."

 "We're going to show young people how cool science can be," said the President.

Source: The New York Times, November 23, 2009