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Several high schools in the greater Bangor area received a gift from the University of Maine and the National Science Foundation on Friday. A handful of schools received donated science equipment including microscopes, binoculars and computers. The equipment, valued at $200,000, will be put to use in science classrooms in Orono, Old Town, Hampden and other neighboring communities.
For the past seven years, area schools have had UMaine graduate students working in their classrooms. This interaction provides hands-on skills and equipment to students, something most students would not get a chance to experience until they reach the collegiate level.
In addition to giving high school students an opportunity to use sophisticated science equipment, this program significantly “helped fellows develop their communication and teaching skills.[high school] students need this equipment to be cutting edge,” said Susan Brawley, lead project director.
David Ploch, a biology teacher at Old Town High School, has been part of the program since the beginning. He said that right now, Old Town High School has microscopes worth about $500, but the microscopes purchased by NSF were of significantly higher quality, costing $1,500 to $3,000 each. Ploch said the program is beneficial because schools are receiving equipment they would not otherwise have the funds for without using local taxpayers’ dollars.
Representatives from various area high schools were present to pick up equipment and have arranged a mutual sharing system. The high schools will exchange equipment depending on the changing needs of each school. This gives hundreds of students in the greater Bangor area access to top-of-the-line equipment and provides a better appreciation for science.
Items were purchased with funds from the NSF. This is the final year the NSF program is working with UMaine. The University of Maine applied for funding from the NSF in 1999 and received an initial $1.3 million grant to participate in the Teaching Fellows Program. Maine was one of 20 universities who were granted funding, out of 100 who applied. In 2002, an additional $1.5 million was granted after UMaine applied for a contract renewal.
The schools involved were members of the Penobscot Regional Education Partnership, which seeks to improve grade school through high school education by working to enhance teaching and students’ educational experience.
