Last week’s Science Generation conference fully exemplifies the concept of “cross-sector” involvement in dealing with the current crisis in science education and science literacy in this country.

Every panel during the day and half meeting had some of the biggest names from industry, education, academia, and government. And what was remarkable was that virtually everyone was in agreement on core issues.

When the crowd of 250+ was asked at lunch, ‘how many of you think No Child Left Behind is a good program?’ only one hand went up. The overwhelming sense is that NCLB has tied the hands of teachers and school administrators, in order to meet a goal that many admitted is worthwhile – promoting accountability.

I don’t know the K-12 education field very well, so was surprised a bit by the tremendous broad interest and passion on the topic of national standards for STEM curricula. Apparently, every other member nation in OECD (Organization for Economic & Cooperative Development – essentially all the developed nations) uses common national standards.

National standards had its own session on Wednesday, but it was a prominent topic of discussion and debate across the rest of the sessions. Gerry Wheeler, head of the National Science Teachers Association and Neil deGrasse Tyson, head of the Hayden Planetarium at AMNH, got into a brief but wonderfully spirited, table-pounding debate during the breakfast session.

Blog posting submitted by: M. Lee Allison, PhD, PG lee.allison@azgs.az.gov State Geologist & Director Arizona Geological Survey 416 W. Congress, #100 Tucson, AZ 85701 520-770-3500 fax-3505 www.azgs.az.gov