Press Release

August 22, 2012
CARDIN, MIKULSKI ANNOUNCE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION GRANT FOR UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE
$500,000 in Federal Funds to Help Prepare Students for Science and Innovation Jobs

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski (both D-Md.) today announced that the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) has been awarded a $500,000 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to prepare high school students to complete undergraduate and advanced degree programs in order to prepare them for careers in geosciences.

“This NSF grant is an important investment in science education and in our State’s future,” said Senator Cardin.  “It will enable UMES to reach out to high school students so that they understand and appreciate the important career opportunities that exist in the highly specialized field of geoscience, a career path that can make a difference to our nation.” 

“These funds in the federal checkbook are about preparing our students here in Maryland for the jobs of today and the jobs of tomorrow,” said Senator Mikulski, Chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science, which funds the NSF. “Science is the key to innovation and innovation creates new products and new jobs. These federal dollars will help engage Maryland’s students in science and innovation and set them on the path to fill jobs of the future.”

These federal dollars will fund the establishment of a “Network of Cooperative Science Centers and High Schools for Training High School Students in Geosciences” at UMES which will engage high school students in geoscience and help prepare them for a career in that field. The program involves outreach to high school students including presentations to high school juniors and seniors about opportunities in geosciences, careers in marine biology, oceanography, atmospheric sciences and remote sensing. The outreach program links students to undergraduate and graduate colleges and universities as well as with existing resources available for funding, research and mentoring. The grant also funds a six week summer geoscience bridge program for 13 high school seniors entering college which exposes the students to the skills they need to succeed in careers in the field.

X