Press Releases
April 07, 2008Chemistry Professor Named Leader of New Science Education Center
For Immediate ReleaseMORAGA, Calif. (April 7, 2008) – Saint Mary's College of California Chemistry professor Steven Bachofer will present educational research on the clean-up of a Superfund site in Alameda during the Science Education for New Civic Engagements and Responsibilities (SENCER) symposium in Washington, D.C. on April 15.
During the symposium on Capitol Hill, SENCER will also launch five nationwide Centers for Innovation designed to improve science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education. Bachofer will be named co-director of the Western regional center along with Amy Shachter, a professor at Santa Clara University.
Bachofer will make a poster presentation at the symposium on an interdisciplinary course he teaches at Saint Mary’s College called “Urban Environmental Issues.” The course explores civic engagement by evaluating the environmental risks associated with redevelopment of the Superfund site at the former Naval Air Station at Alameda Point. It is taught in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the city of Alameda and nonprofit organizations.
“The course enables students to use science to solve real-world problems,” said Bachofer. “Using the site as a living laboratory has made science relevant to these students’ lives.”
Symposium participants from 27 colleges and universities will share their research with members of their congressional delegations from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. on April 15. The poster session and reception will follow at noon to 2:30 p.m. in the Rayburn House Office Building, rooms B-339 and B-340.
For more information about the Saint Mary’s College course, go to: http://galileo.stmarys-ca.edu/superfundalameda/
About SENCER
SENCER is the signature program of the National Center for Science and Civic Engagement (NCSCE), a research center affiliated with Harrisburg University of Science and Technology. SENCER is a faculty development and science education reform program that has been supported by the National Science Foundation since 2000. SENCER programs engage students in science and mathematics by focusing coursework on real world problems. More information about the National Center for Science and Civic Engagement and SENCER can be found online at www.ncsce.net and www.sencer.net.
Contact:
Media Relations
(925) 631-4222
media@stmarys-ca.edu
Saint Mary’s College, founded in 1863, is a residential learning community in Moraga, California based in the Catholic, Lasallian and liberal arts traditions. The college currently enrolls more than 3,600 students in undergraduate and graduate programs. The Christian Brothers, an international Catholic teaching order, guides the academic growth and spiritual character of the school.
