The STEM Problem

 

We live in a global, knowledge-based economy. We face increasingly complex problems, ranging from health, energy, and the environment, to security and sustainable well-being. The United States cannot meet these challenges and succeed in this global economy unless our educational system provides every student with essential competencies in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and prepares a larger number of students for STEM-competent leadership in business, government and the STEM professions.

 

The National Science Board, the National Academies and other highly respected panels, task forces and commissions have laid out the data pointing to major deficiencies in STEM curriculum, in K-12 student STEM proficiency, college-level interest in STEM majors and STEM careers, and teacher quality in the STEM disciplines. These are major  cracks in the STEM pipeline.  For example, some 60% of freshman STEM majors do not stay the course and graduate with university STEM degrees.  With scientific and technological innovation becoming increasingly competitive in the 21st century, the U.S. education system must raise the bar on STEM proficiency and recruit a new generation of highly qualified students to enter the STEM fields.

 

  stem pipeline

                                                           Graphic: Courtesy of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

 

Our Purpose

The Battelle Center supports Ohio’s education leaders and policymakers, strengthening their capacity to deliver high-quality, high-impact education for all students and to make Ohio a national leader in effective science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. 

History

In May 2006, the Battelle Memorial Institute (BMI), the world’s largest non-profit independent research and development organization, established the Battelle Center for Mathematics and Science Education Policy in The John Glenn School of Public Affairs at The Ohio State University.  From its inception, the Battelle Center was charged with bringing together individuals in higher education with leaders in K-12, business, technology, and government to develop policies and practices that increase the number of students appropriately energized and prepared to be leaders in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). 

 

The search for the inaugural director began in early 2006 and culminated in the hiring of Dr. Kathryn D. Sullivan.  A scientist, astronaut, national policymaker and proven executive, Sullivan brings a powerful array of relevant experiences to the director’s chair.  The first task undertaken by Dr. Sullivan as Director was an environmental scan of the STEM education policy arena.  From this, two areas were identified as promising focal points for the Center’s work:  studying the role of public-private networks in STEM innovation and bringing potentially transformative analytic tools to bear in education research and policy.

 

 

Battelle Center Staff

Dr. Kathy D. Sullivan


A scientist, astronaut, and award-winning educator, Dr. Sullivan was named founding Director of the Battelle Center in November 2006. Prior to joining the Center, Dr. Sullivan served as President and CEO of Ohio’s Center of Science and Industry (COSI) for 10 years. From 1993 to 1996, Dr. Sullivan served as Chief Scientist of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). During her 15 years with NASA, Dr. Sullivan flew on 3 space shuttle missions and earned the distinction of being the first American woman to walk in space. In 2003, the National Science Board awarded Dr. Sullivan its Public Service Medal. Soon thereafter Dr. Sullivan was appointed to the National Science Board and has served as Vice Chairman. Dr. Sullivan is an acclaimed speaker on the national and international levels and a strong advocate for bringing passion and creativity of real science into the heart of teaching and learning. She is co-author with Karl J. Klimek and Elsie Ritzenhein of "Generative Leadership: Shaping New Futures for Today’s Schools" (Corwin Press 2008).


Courtney F. Heppner, Program Manager

 

Ms. Heppner joined the Battelle Center as Program Manager in September 2008. Before joining the Center, Ms. Hepner was a Research Associate at the American Institutes for Research (AIR) in Washington D.C., conducting education policy research on state assessment programs, reading and math professional development, small learning communities, and early childhood education. Prior to AIR, she worked as a Constituent Aide for an Ohio State Senator and performed an internship on Capital Hill. Ms. Heppner earned her M.Ed. in Social Foundations in Education from the University of Virginia, and her B.A. in Political Science from The Ohio State University.

 

Courtney’s STEM Story: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Webr91r7Wnc&feature=channel_page

 

 

Contact Us

Battelle Center for Mathematics and Science Education Policy

John Glenn School of Public Affairs

The Ohio State University

350 Page Hall

1810 College Road

Columbus, OH, 43210

battellecenter@osu.edu
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210G Page Hall,
1810 College Rd.
Columbus, OH 43210