PHYSICS EDUCATION NEWS (PEN) January 1994, No. 1 An electronic newsletter of the AIP Educa

PHYSICS EDUCATION NEWS (PEN)
January 1994, No. 1

An electronic newsletter of the AIP Education Division

FEDERAL SCIENCE EDUCATION PROGRAMS CRITICIZED
A recently released report by a top-level advisory panel to the
Federal Coordinating Council for Science, Engineering, and
Technology (FCCSET) warns that the Federal Government's science and
technology education programs are unbalanced, lack cohesion, and
have evolved with "too little overall planning and with inadequate
evaluation."  The report, "The Federal Investment in Science,
Mathematics, Engineering, and Technology Education:  Where Now? 
What Next?", presents the findings of a survey that examined nearly
300 education programs sponsored by 13 Federal departments and
agencies.  The panel calls for a "new culture of interaction,
communication, and coordination to be developed and sustained
within and among all Federal agencies in the area of education."
(For a copy of the report, contact the National Science Foundation,
Attn: Joyce Taylor, Suite 855 (NSF/EHR/RED), 4201 Wilson Blvd.,
Arlington, VA  22230)

NASA PLANS SPACE STATION VIDEOCONFERENCE
The NASA Space Station Program plans to hold its first live
Videoconference with colleges, businesses, and hospitals in
cooperation with the Public Broadcasting Service Adult Learning
Satellite Service (PBS ALSS).  This two-hour program, which will
focus on Space Station research, is scheduled for February 17,
1994, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm Eastern Time.  The Videoconference is
for those who wish to learn about research plans, benefits, and
opportunities stemming from the Space Station.  Any site with
connectivity to a satellite television receiver can license to
carry this program at no cost.  Call PBS at 800-257-2578 if you
wish to license a site, or find a site near you which will receive
the program.  NASA plans to air this broadcast on NASA Select
Television after its initial airing on PBS. 
(For more information, contact Barry Epstein, NASA Headquarters,
202-358-1191)

SPACE SCIENCE IS TOPIC OF NEW ELECTRONIC PICTUREBOOKS
The Exploration in Education (ExInEd) program of the Special
Studies Office (SSO) at the Space Telescope Science Institute
(STSI) is developing new ways of relating space science and
exploration to basic teaching and learning, and expanding the
astronomical community's ability to reach out to teachers,
students, and the public at-large.  Currently ExInEd is producing
a series of multimedia educational publications called Electronic
PictureBooks that are authored by space scientists, engineers, and
astronauts.  All Electronic PictureBooks contain text, full-color
Macintosh special navigational features, and can run on any color
Macintosh computer.  They can be purchased on diskette from The
Astronomical Society of the Pacific (415-337-2624) or downloaded
from SSO's electronic bulletin board (410-516-4880), from the
commercial network American Online, or via the internet using
anonymous ftp to host address "stsci.edu."
(For more information, contact Dr. Robert A. Brown, Special Studies
Office, Space Telescope Science Institute, 3700 San Martin Drive,
Baltimore, MD  21218; e-mail: rbrown@stsci.edu)

STUDY IDENTIFIES FACTORS LEADING WOMEN INTO SCIENCE
Wellesley College, in Wellesley, Massachusetts, has just released
a detailed study exploring the forces that shape a woman's decision
whether or not to go into science.  According to the study,
"Pathways for Women in Science", the main reason women don't enter
science isn't that they don't like it, but that they have stronger
interests elsewhere.  The study also found that the central
predictor of whether a woman remained in science was that she liked
precise answers.
(For more information, contact the Center for Research on Women in
Science at Wellesley College, 617-283-2500)

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tschwab@aip.org

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