[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 71 (Wednesday, May 12, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S3635]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            NATIONAL LAB DAY

  Mr. KAUFMAN. Mr. President, I rise today, to celebrate National Lab 
Day. While today is the official National Lab Day kick-off, National 
Lab Day is much more than just one day. It is an ongoing effort to 
bring scientists and engineers into the classroom to conduct hands-on 
experiments with students.
  Last November, President Obama launched the ``Educate to Innovate'' 
campaign to motivate and inspire students to excel in science, 
technology, engineering, and mathematics, or STEM, education. As part 
of this effort, President Obama announced the launch of National Lab 
Day and encouraged Americans to get involved. Created through a 
partnership between Federal agencies, foundations, professional 
societies, and other STEM-related organizations, support for National 
Lab Day grew quickly. Currently, projects are scheduled in every State, 
including over 1,000 schools.
  I have spoken many times on the Senate floor about the importance of 
STEM education. I advocated for the inclusion of increased service 
opportunities for retired engineers and other STEM professionals in the 
Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act. National Lab Day is an important 
step towards creating strong, long-term relationships between STEM 
professionals and educators.
  Importantly, National Lab Day projects are teacher-driven. Teachers 
can register at the National Lab Day Web site and request funding or 
describe a project they would like to do with a STEM professional. 
Teachers can have STEM professionals help them assess, update, and 
repair current lab facilities and equipment, implement hands-on 
activities, conduct science fairs, mentor students, coordinate field 
trips, assist with lesson plans, and more.
  Once teachers post their requests on the National Lab Day Web site, 
they will be matched with a list of local volunteers who have 
registered on the Web site. Volunteers need not only be STEM 
professionals, as university STEM students and other members of the 
community can sign up to help as well. Volunteers can browse teacher 
requests and will be notified of any matches to teacher requests that 
meet their interests.
  A quick look at the projects posted on the Web site reveals 
intriguing titles such as VEX Robotics, Tech Genographics, Space--the 
Final Frontier, and Get Ahead--Design a Shed, to name a few. The Office 
of Science and Technology Policy blog recently highlighted a National 
Lab Day project that took place at East Side Community High School in 
Manhattan. With the recent major BP oilspill in the Gulf of Mexico, 
this particular lab was especially timely to students. A local college 
professor taught 10th graders how to clean and purify ``contaminated'' 
water made of tap water mixed with dirt, flour, salad dressing, and 
dish soap. This is exactly the type of hands-on experiment that 
National Lab Day promotes to expose young people to the real-world 
applications and wonders of STEM.
  Support for National Lab Day is extensive. Key partners include: the 
National Science Teachers Association, American Chemical Society, 
MacArthur Foundation, Hidary Foundation, the National Institutes of 
Health, and the National Science Foundation. Additionally, more than 
200 educational, scientific, and engineering organizations support 
National Lab Day, including such groups as the National Education 
Association and the Association for Women and Science.
  National Institutes of Health Director Dr. Francis Collins is 
participating in National Lab Day by volunteering in a local District 
of Columbia school and he has encouraged NIH employees to get involved 
as well. American Society for Engineering Education President J.P. 
Mohsen is participating in National Lab Day and is encouraging other 
ASEE members nationwide to do the same in their local communities. 
First Lady Michelle Obama highlighted National Lab Day when she spoke 
to the team finalists at the National Science Bowl.
  I have said many times that I believe the long-term vitality of our 
economy rests with our ability to use STEM to solve the major problems 
we face. Whether it is energy independence, climate change, life-saving 
cures for diseases, security challenges, or new solutions for 
transportation, STEM professionals are the world's problem solvers. 
Fortunately, young people today want to ``make a difference'' with 
their lives, but unfortunately, not enough of them see STEM as the way 
to do that.
  National Lab Day will allow STEM professionals not only to share 
their unique skills and knowledge with educators and students, but it 
will also allow them to share the rewards of a career in STEM and the 
numerous ways that STEM professionals ``make a difference.'' National 
Lab Day, and the relationships it is fostering, will help inspire the 
next generation of scientists and engineers. I applaud the volunteers, 
teachers, associations, and agencies that are participating in National 
Lab Day--today and in the future.

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