MySci Completes Another Successful School Year

Posted: 06/01/2009

Investigation Stations visit 360 classes during program's fourth year of operation

ST. LOUIS (June 1, 2009) - MySci recently completed its fourth consecutive school year, and the program continues to grow its success in inspiring the next generation of scientists.

MySci provides curriculum books and classroom kits in the topics of plants, animals and the Earth. It also includes a visit from an Investigation Station, a roving vehicle of innovative exhibits and specimens that make learning through climbing, crawling, seeing, hearing and smelling more exciting than ever.

During the 2008-2009 school year, MySci reached more than 13,000 people, including 6,800 students in 360 classes. In addition, 365 teachers participated in MySci's professional development program. And more than 7,000 people are expected to visit an Investigation Station this summer during public events such as Fair Saint Louis.

"We are proud to have grown so significantly since our start in 2005," said Ann McMahon, program director of MySci. "Increasing demand for our services each year since has led us to explore ways to expand our reach and capabilities."

During the recent 2008-2009 school year, MySci started an action research project at two local schools. Science Alive: Learning, Leading and Connecting, put live animals in classrooms at Most Holy Trinity School in north St. Louis and Duchesne Elementary School in Florissant, Mo.

As an action research project, MySci will take a systematic look at the success of the Science Alive program after it ends in June. At that time, MySci will determine whether to refine and continue the pilot program as part of MySci's regular program offerings during the 2009-2010 school year.

The biggest example of MySci's growth over the last four years was the addition of a second Investigation Station during the 2007-08 school year. The traveling interactive science experiences were created with the early elementary student in mind. Each station is equipped with a Missouri woodlands area, a specimen room and a replica of a Missouri limestone cave.

Last year, MySci received a $3 million grant from the Monsanto Fund. The funding, to be awarded over three years, is an extension of the $3.7 million Monsanto Fund grant used to found MySci in 2005. All schools in the St. Louis area are eligible for the program. One of MySci's goals is to improve achievement levels for all students. Therefore, two-thirds of MySci's visits are made to schools with under-achieving student populations.

MySci's success will continue during the 2009-2010 school year: The summer professional development program already is fully booked, and next year's school visits already are lined up.

About MySci
MySci, funded by Monsanto Fund, is a collaborative effort among the following institutions: Washington University in St. Louis, the Saint Louis Science Center, the Missouri Botanical Garden and the Saint Louis Zoo. MySci's mission is to enhance a sense of wonder and interest in science for children and their teachers. The MySci program gives early elementary students all over St. Louis the chance to study science through inquiry. It provides curriculum books and classroom kits in the topics of plants, animals and the earth. It also includes a visit from an Investigation Station, a roving vehicle of innovative exhibits and specimens that make learning through climbing, crawling, seeing, hearing and smelling more exciting than ever. MySci is getting an early start on recruiting the next generation of scientists.

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Justin Lopinot, Standing Partnership
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