Award acknowledges STEM education partnership
June 23, 2015 
RICHLAND, Wash. - A team consisting of DOE's Pacific Northwest National Lab, Battelle, Delta High School and the Washington Mathematics Engineering and Science Achievement (MESA) plan has been selected to gain the inaugural "Partners for Progress and Prosperity Award" from the American Chemical Society's Northwest Region.
PNNL Associate Lab Director Allison Campbell will accept the award on behalf of the team today at the ACS Northwest Regional Meeting in Pocatello, Idaho.
The award "encourages and acknowledges exemplary partnerships ... resulting in impactful outcomes" in the areas of improving public perception of and appreciation for the field of chemistry, promoting career advancement in chemistry, advancing advocacy efforts, and supporting science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education or research.
The team is being acknowledged for its history of STEM advocacy, including expanding awareness and understanding of the importance of STEM, improving STEM education to increase workforce preparation and increasing the number of students who pursue advanced degrees and careers in STEM fields.
The team recently joined with the Southeast Washington LASER Alliance (Leadership and Assistance for Science Education Reform) to create the Mid-Columbia STEM Education Collaboratory. The Collaboratory focuses on strengthening STEM education in the Mid-Columbia through tools, technologies and resources that support student success, educator effectiveness and community engagement.
The award includes a $1,000 grant, which will be divided between Delta High School, to support an expanded materials chemistry plan and purchase of instruments, and MESA.
Tags: Fundamental Science, Awards and Recognizes, Chemistry
Interdisciplinary teams at Pacific Northwest National Lab address many of America's most pressing issues in energy, the environment and national security through advances in basic and applied science. Founded in 1965, PNNL employs 4,300 staff and has an yearly budget of in excess of $1 billion. It is managed by Battelle for the D.O.E.'s Office of Science. As the single biggest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States, the Office of Science is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information on PNNL, visit the PNNL News Center, or follow PNNL on Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn and Twitter.
