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Funding the NACL: Putting Together the Pieces for a Pilot Project
Agilent Technologies and Lynn Nixon, Winning Combination for NACL
In the game of big business, Agilent Technologies represents a winner. As a successful spin-off of Hewlett-Packard, Agilent has earned a reputation for vision and leadership in the high-growth industries of communications, electronics, chemical analysis and life sciences in just five short years. The company has also recognized that a key component to maintain, build and ensure future success is the support of secondary science education for tomorrow's global scientists.
Lynn Nixon, Agilent's World-Wide Contributions Manager, is personally committed to inquiry-based science education. "I began my career as a high school Biology teacher," she says. "I was and still am passionate about children experiencing the world of science and mathematics first-hand." With 20 years of experience in government affairs, public relations and community affairs in the Northwest, Lynn also serves on the Steering Committee for Washington State's Leadership and Assistance for Science Education Reform (LASER). "Agilent chose Washington State LASER as the pilot because of its excellent reputation," said Lynn. "We hope the success of NACL will help improve science education on the national level – and eventually the international level."
On behalf of Agilent and true to her own personal passion for science education, Lynn recognized that LASER's success in K-8, inquiry-based, science education should be extended to the high school level. It could be the ultimate win-win for children, educators, and Agilent's long-term educational goals for creating tomorrow's scientists.
A discussion between Lynn and an Agilent Executive serving on the Biological Sciences Curriculum Study (BSCS) Board uncovered the potential to leverage the strengths of the two organizations. At Agilent's prompting, a group of national science education experts gathered to assess the viability of this idea. The outcome was Agilent's support for a partnership of WA State LASER and BSCS in a three-year NACL pilot program for teams from Washington, California and Delaware.
Agilent funding and the tireless efforts of Lynn Nixon have been the catalyst in broadening the NACL focus and providing BSCS with a forum to become an educational "gold standard" in inquiry-based science education. Agilent monies allowed school districts to participate for a reduced cost in the three-year pilot and paid for the majority of the BSCS costs. Without this critical infusion of funding, the program could not have begun.
As the NACL regional pilot completes its first year, Lynn is looking to the future. She says, "To insure that this pilot becomes an ongoing part of WA State LASER, we need to develop broad-based and sustainable funding. In addition to current support from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, DuPont, Intel and the Pacific Science Center, we need and welcome help from other industries and universities to provide on-going funding and resources. The success of this pilot can lead to development of other NACL regional programs around the U.S. that are also self-sustaining. It is exciting to think about the impact this could have as more educators are able to help students experience the wonder and relevance of science."