C-BEF

“The danger exists that Americans may not know enough about science, technology, or mathematics to significantly contribute to, or fully benefit from, the knowledge-based society that is already taking shape around us. Moreover, most of us do not have enough understanding of the importance of those skills to encourage our children to study those subjects—both for their career opportunities and for their general benefit. Other nations have learned from our history, however, and they are boosting their investments in science and engineering education because doing so pays immense economic and social dividends. – “Rising Above the Gathering Storm,” Report of the National Academies of Science, 2005

“For a century, many in the United States took for granted that most great inventions would be home-grown—such as electric power, the telephone, the automobile, and the airplane—and would be commercialized here as well. But we are less certain today who will create the next generation of innovations, or even what they will be. We know that we need a more secure Internet, more-efficient transportation, new cures for disease, and clean, affordable, and reliable sources of energy. But who will dream them up, who will get the jobs they create, and who will profit from them? If our children and grandchildren are to enjoy the prosperity that our forebears earned for us, our nation must quickly invigorate the knowledge institutions that have served it so well in the past and create new ones to serve in the future.” – “Rising Above the Gathering Storm,” Report of the National Academies of Science, 2005

“Civilization is on the brink of a new industrial order. The big winners in the increasingly fierce global scramble for supremacy will not be those who simply make commodities faster and cheaper than the competition. They will be those who develop talent, techniques and tools so advanced that there is no competition.” – National Science Foundation, letter to the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, 2004.

“Human capital—the quality of our work force—is a particularly important factor in our competitiveness. Our public school system comprises the foundation of this asset. But as it exists today, that system compares, in the aggregate, abysmally with those of other developed—and even developing—nations . . . particularly in the fields which underpin most innovation: science, mathematics and technology.” – Norman Augustine, former CEO, Lockheed Martin Corporation, 2006

C-BEF will be the clearinghouse for the latest information on the skill sets needed for the bioscience workforce. This information is critical to ensure that community colleges and research institutions have the most up to date information for curriculum development.

Science teachers benefit from interaction with those on the cutting edge of bioscience research. C-BEF sponsored summer programs will help high school and middle school educators keep pace with the latest developments in the biological sciences.

The number of young Americans undertaking math and science studies shrinks each year. To maintain our national competitiveness, innovative programs to help reach out to under represented groups, such as minorities and women, are essential to fill the jobs of tomorrow. C-BEF initiatives to increase participation are targeted at students from middle school through post-secondary institutions.

C-BEF is dedicated to funding an expansion of the Virginia “Biotech-in-a-Box” program operated by Virginia Tech. The program, in operation since 1994, loans out 30 biotech education kits to schools across the Commonwealth. During the 2004-2005 school year, the program served 16,000 students at 100 schools statewide. However, there are not enough resources to cover the demand for the program. C-BEF is providing resources to manufacture at least three to four additional kits for distribution.

C-BEF judges and sponsors monetary awards for the best projects in bioscience fields to high school students competing in the annual State Science and Engineering Fairs.