CATALyST
to Yield Scientific Thinking
Louisiana Collaboratives for Excellence in Science Teaching Press Release
Louisiana Tech University's CATALyST joins three other Louisiana Universities in sharing Shell Oil grant to strengthen K-12 Math and Science: statewide initiative will support teachers to improve student achievement.
May 12, 2005
Baton Rouge, LA. - Four Louisiana universities - Louisiana State University, Louisiana Tech University, Southern University and Grambling State University - will participate in a pilot program funded by Shell Oil Company to improve the teaching and learning of math and science in grades K-12 across the state.
The four-year program, the Louisiana Collaboratives for Excellence in Science Teaching, will encompass teacher training, mentoring and access to instructional materials. The goal is to encourage students to pursue advanced science courses leading to careers in engineering, geosciences and environmental science.
The pilot program is an outgrowth of a 13-year-old program in Texas, the Texas Regional Collaboratives for Excellence in Science Education. Funding of $400,000 for the Louisiana pilot is part of a $1 million grant to the Texas Regional Collaboratives announced in February. In total, the two-state initiative will serve 4,000 science teachers reaching more than 300,000 students.
The grant is Shell's largest individual donation designated to K-12 science teachers and the improvement of geosciences and engineering instruction.
In addition to this grant, Shell has contributed more than $1 million nationwide in the past year as part of its workforce development initiative to encourage students' interest in math and science and the pursuit of technical careers.
About the Louisiana Collaboratives
The Louisiana Collaboratives for Excellence in Science Teaching will be managed under the auspices of the Texas Regional Collaboriatives and will offer specialized resources to science teachers at kindergarten through 12th grade levels through the four universities. The program will be administered through the Gordon A. Cain Center for Scientific, Technological, Engineering and Mathematical Literacy at LSU-Baton Rouge; the CATALyST Center (Center for Applied Teaching and Learning to Yield Scientific Thinking) at Louisiana Tech; the doctoral program in Science and Mathematics Education at Southern University; and the College of Science and Technology at Grambling State University.
About Shell Oil Company
Shell Oil Company is an affiliate of the Royal Dutch/Shell Group of Companies. Including its consolidated companies and its share in equity companies, Shell Oil is one of America's leading oil and natural gas producers, natural gas marketers, gasoline marketers and petrochemical manufacturers. Shell Oil is the leading oil and gas producer in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico and is a recognized pioneer in oil and gas exploration and production technology.
