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Tip Sheet for the week of Aug. 13, 2007

RELEASED: Aug. 13, 2007

Story Idea
What do a University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire professor, two area high school teachers, Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton and astronaut Sally Ride have in common? All are working to encourage more girls in Wisconsin to consider careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics — also called STEM fields. With nearly $200,000 in support from the National Science Foundation, Marc Goulet, a UW-Eau Claire professor of mathematics, and colleagues from UW-Green Bay and UW-Oshkosh have created and implemented "Opportunities for Wisconsin Women in Science, Math, Technology and Engineering," a training program for Wisconsin teachers and counselors to increase awareness of and eliminate gender bias in science and technology education. Teachers and counselors will earn three graduate credits for their participation in the program.

  • Program participants attended a conference Aug. 6-8 at UW-Oshkosh, which drew 115 middle- and high-school teachers and counselors from across the state. Among the conference attendees were Chippewa Falls High School teachers Laura Jensen and Rob Kuchta. Jensen, Kuchta and other participants now will conduct programs in their communities to educate others about gender bias in science and technology education, implement gender-bias-free teaching methods in their own classrooms and conduct student surveys to determine the impact of the program.
  • An informational and inspirational video for teachers, counselors and parents highlighting the successes of women in the STEM fields has been produced as a part of the project. Lawton and Ride are among those appearing in the video.

For more information about "Opportunities for Wisconsin Women in Science, Math, Technology and Engineering," contact Goulet at 715-836-3517 or gouletmr@uwec.edu, Jensen at 715-836-7542 or ljensen@chipfalls.k12.wi.us, and Kuchta at 715-835-2603 or kuchtarj@chipfalls.k12.wi.us.

Story/Photo Idea
This week, 20-30 area students in grades 3-6 will spend their mornings exploring the history of our region during a half-day camp offered by UW-Eau Claire Continuing Education and the Chippewa Valley Museum. "Museum Mysteries" will meet Aug. 13-17 from 9 a.m.-noon at the Chippewa Valley Museum. "Museum Mysteries" daily themes will be "Mystery Monday," "Time Travel Tuesday," "Whodunit Wednesday," "3-D Thursday" and "Famous Folks Friday." For more information contact Libby Thurston at 715-836-3365 or thurstel@uwec.edu.

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