http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-671159.mp3
Albany, NY – NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION SERIES
THE SOUNDS OF PROGRESS: THE CHANGING ROLE OF GIRLS AND WOMEN IN SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
NSU EVALUATIVE RESEARCH STUDY OF STEM PROGRAMS FOR IMPROVED RETENTION, PROGRESSION AND GRADUATION:
THE DNIMAS PROGRAM - DOZORETZ NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR MATHEMATICS AND APPLIED SCIENCES PROGRAM AT NORFOLK
STATE UNIVERSITY , PT. 1 of 2 -
Black History Month is a remembrance of important people and events in
African American history. It's celebrated annually in the U.S. and Canada
in the month of February. Black History Month was not instituted in the U.S.
until 1976. But it's a month-long expansion of Negro History Week first established in 1926. Each year during this month, TBOOK tries to stimulate discussion and inform our listeners on this subject. This year, we are
extremely pleased to present an exclusive special two-part feature about
African American students in the sciences, engineering, and math.
Just last month, the National Science Board released its latest Science
and Engineering Indicators report. The data lists 50 U.S. colleges and universities awarding the most degrees to African Americans in science and engineering. Of course there's Spelman, Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford
and Cornell. But also in that mix of top schools is Norfolk State University. Norfolk State initiated a program in 1985 to encourage African American
students to pursue degrees in science, technology, engineering, and math.
The demonstrated success of their STEM program seems to indicate
scholarship recipients have enjoyed considerably higher graduation rates,
as well as the ability to earn graduate and professional degrees at much
higher rates than their peers. We monitor several researchers currently
crunching the numbers, to determine how NSU has been able to do that, so
other schools may follow in their footsteps. Next week we conclude the story.
Richard Paul reports. (12:06)
The preceding material is supported by the National Science Foundation
under grant HRD 0631603. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this story, are those of the authors,
and do not necessarily reflect those of the National Science Foundation.
**(Program Directors and Listeners please note. If you would like to
hear this story again and link to more information about the research
mentioned, go online to www.womeninscience.org, click on The Sounds of Progress button, and scroll down to the above title.)**
SCHOOL DESEGREGATION IN 1946 -
It's been more than fifty years since a landmark U.S. Supreme Court
decision outlawed segregation in public schools. But unbeknownst to
most, there was a school that tackled desegregation long before it
became the law of the land, way back in the 40's. That school in
Alexandria, Virginia remains today.
Vicki Hayes reports this astounding story. (5:46)