Eastern Washington University Wins $599K Federal Grant to Train Future Science Teachers

09.13.24

Eastern Washington University Wins $599K Federal Grant to Train Future Science Teachers

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Eastern Washington University will receive a $599,968 federal grant to help train 20 future K-12 science teachers, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), chair of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, announced today.

"STEM skills are in high demand, so our state's young people need the best science education they can get," said Sen. Cantwell. "This grant will train 20 future teachers to help inspire a new generation of kids to love science. Eastern Washington University is playing an important role in creating the skilled workforce of tomorrow."

"This grant represents a tremendous opportunity for Eastern Washington University to strengthen K-12 science education. By equipping our future science teachers with the knowledge and research experiences to bring hands-on, inquiry-based learning methods into their classrooms, we are helping to create a more engaging and impactful science education experience for K-12 students. We are deeply grateful to the National Science Foundation and the Micron Foundation for their support in this transformative effort," said EWU President McMahan.

The money comes from the National Science Foundation's Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program, with support from the Micron Foundation.

This project at Eastern Washington University will support 20 future science teachers over five years. Participants will include undergraduate students who are majoring in biology, chemistry, geoscience, or physics and earning a Washington state teaching endorsement.

As part of the project the future teachers will participate in science research experiences, seminars, and activities to:

• Increase their understanding of the nature of science and scientific inquiry;
• Improve their scientific research skills, and;
• Help them use authentic research experiences in their teaching.

These outcomes are expected to better prepare teachers to engage their K-12 science students, increase their future students' success in science, and improve science teacher preparation programs at EWU.

While the State of Washington has the second highest concentration of STEM jobs in the nation - adding more than 6,000 new computer science-related jobs every year - the state graduates about one-half as many bachelor's degrees in these fields. According to a report by Washington STEM, by 2026, the state will have a gap of approximately 60,000 STEM workers.

Sen. Cantwell is a strong advocate of increasing the number of women and minorities in STEM fields. The CHIPS & Science Act -- of which Sen. Cantwell was a chief architect and lead negotiator -- authorized $13 billion in STEM education funding at the National Science Foundation, representing a tripling of the NSF's annual STEM education budget over five years. Nearly $2 billion is authorized to go to minority-serving institutions and other emerging research institutions.

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