AAAS/SSE Science Volunteer Program
Overview
 There is concern in the scientific community about the lack of understanding of science and its methods by the general public resulting in part from inadequate science education in school (see A. I. Leshner, Science 306, p. 197, 2004). A recent National Research Council (NRC) report says that: “At no time in history has improving science education been more important than it is today. Yet after 15 years of focused standards-based reform, improvements in U.S. science education are modest at best, and comparisons show that U.S. students fare poorly in comparison with students in other countries.”
The NRC report identifies K-8 education as critical, and recommends a number of actions, stressing improvements in curricula and development of teachers. One effort recommended by AAAS Senior Scientists & Engineers (AAAS/SSE) is to bring retired science and engineering professionals into classrooms to assist teachers. There is a very large pool of potential volunteers, including not only retired scientists and engineers, but also physicians and professionals who are still in the work force. As an indicator, in 2006 there were an estimated 1,147,000 scientists and engineers over 60 years of age with bachelors’ degrees or higher (communication from the National Science Foundation, Science Resources Statistics Division). The utilization of even a small percent of this resource could make a significant contribution to advancing science education.
In 2005, AAAS/SSE reached out to the Montgomery County (MD) Public Schools (MCPS) to establish the MCPS Science Volunteer Project. It began as a one-year pilot that partnered retired scientists and engineers with MCPS middle and high schools. The partnership continues and now includes elementary schools.
A AAAS/SSE volunteer effort with the Fairfax County (VA) Public Schools (FCPS) began in 2007. The FCPS Science Volunteer Project focused initially on middle schools, but is expanding to include elementary schools for the 2009-2010 school year
The efforts of AAAS/SSE are informed by two volunteer programs that have advanced science education through the knowledge and experience of retired science and engineering professionals for more than a decade:
- RE-SEED (Retirees Enhancing Science Education through Experiments and Demonstrations) based at Northeastern University, and
- TOPS (Teaching Opportunities for Partners in Science) www.topslearning.org, a component of VISTAS, www.vistaslearning.org, operating out of the San Joaquin County (CA) Office of Education.
A brief description of these and other similar programs is given in Science Volunteer Programs.
For further information on the AAAS/SSE Science Volunteer Program, contact sse@aaas.org.
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