NANOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH AROUND THE WORLD. ISRAEL -

8^th Conference on Active Research by Environmental Science Students (CARESS) 2011

August 9, 2011

Dr. Reuven Reuveni

"Pedagogical and logistical support is necessary for teacher training to be worthwhile", said Myles Boylan, a program director for the National Science Foundation. "We've known for some time those just sending teachers to a workshop and then back to their schools without further support, is not effective," Boylan said.

The main problem of science teachers is indeed, staying abreast of the latest developments in this field which is being exposed to daily tremendous findings. One possible and highly efficient way to get these teachers involved is to find the appropriate path to collaboration with close universities campuses and research centers. Not just for workshops from time to time though, but as joint, long term, programs for Science Fairs and mini-scientific projects that will currently be conducted by High Schools students, supervised by professors from the university and research centers at the closet area, together with the science teachers at the high schools. At the end of each program there will certainly be Scientific Fairs and Awards to best projects, together with blessed involvement and support of the parents and much more creative and supportive activities. Win-win-win is what it is all about.

This sort of win-win-win program is being practiced in my country, Israel, and it certainly brings the latest scientific news to the teachers, brings ambitious to science and science studies to the young students, and more importantly, brings further possible students to the universities.Each single part of this triangle – teachers, students and universities are in a win-win-win situation.

We are currently doing it in Israel and it is working great for many years.

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