Recently I joined the Assembly Minority Conference in unveiling the New Edison Project legislation which, I hope, will intellectually jump start student interest in math and science.
The New Edison Project-a comprehensive plan designed to influence a new generation of leaders in math and science. The project builds on the work we have already done to make New York a leader in technology and a magnet for innovation and scientific progress. As the ranking minority member on the Assembly’s Economic Development Committee I am determined to encourage the technological innovation that will be the heart of our nation’s economy in the next generation.
The Edison Project contains several incentives to encourage students to pursue math and science. Among them:
- Creation of programs within high schools, geared toward enriched math, science and engineering curricula.
- Celebrity Media Plan to use celebrities to promote the message that it is “cool” to excel in math and science.
- NYS Science Fair with financial awards to winning high schools and scholarships for winning participants.
- Loan forgiveness for math, science and engineering majors who choose to work in New York upon graduation.
- Additional $500 E-TAP award for math, science and engineering majors.
- Grant funding for graduate students who pursue scientific research related to their graduate or doctoral studies.
- Support Governor’s proposals like Summer Institutes of Math and Science for students and the Math and Science Teacher Initiative.
I am particularly interested in the statewide Science Fair. The rewards would be substantial - $500,000 awarded to the winning school with additional scholarship money to the winning team members towards their college costs. It’s my hope that element of competition will inspire our students to excel – after all, isn’t that a fundamental principle of our nation…that competition spurs excellence.
Studies show that America is falling behind in the areas of math and science, and the training of our students in certain technological fields will drive our economy into the future.
New York State, and the country as a whole, must again become leaders in science and technology. It is a fitting way to honor Thomas Edison’s scientific legacy by ensuring our own scientific future in Fulton, Herkimer, and Otsego counties for generations to come.