CLAYTON, N.C., December 13, 2002 -  "Nutty Science Professor" and Bayer research scientist Gerry Lewis brought his interactive "Great American Science Show" from Pittsburgh to Clayton today where he made raisins dance, marshmallows explode and hotdogs shatter for Cooper Elementary School third, fourth and fifth graders.

Joining Lewis was Mary Kuhn who, as Senior Vice President of Biological Products and incoming Clayton Site Manager, is Bayer's new top executive in Clayton.  Lewis and Kuhn were on hand to underscore Bayer Biological Products Division's continued commitment to science education in Johnston County.  Kuhn reaffirmed that commitment by presenting a $25,000 Making Science Make Sense grant to Johnston County Schools' Superintendent James F. Causby.  

The new grant is earmarked for the continued implementation of the district-wide science education reform program that Bayer and the Johnston County Schools (JCS) launched in 2000 as part of North Carolina's state-wide "K-8 Science Infrastructure Project."

This marks Bayer's third consecutive annual grant to JCS since 2000 and is part of Bayer's Making Science Make Sense (MSMS) program, a company-wide initiative that advances science literacy through hands-on, inquiry-based science learning, employee volunteerism and public education.  The two previous grants, totaling $70,000, have allowed the district to implement the reform initiative and train teachers in eight schools.  The new grant will expand the program to 11 schools.  The three new schools are Polenta Elementary, West Clayton Elementary and Corinth-Holders Elementary.

"Bayer's strong ongoing commitment to improving science education in our schools is evident today and everyday, not only through the company's generous financial support, but also through that of its employee-volunteers who regularly share their time and expertise in our classrooms," said Superintendent Causby. "As our teachers and students move toward this hands-on, minds-on learning approach and away from a textbook-driven one, the in-classroom support provided by Bayer volunteers has been key."

Causby added that the results are being felt directly in the classroom, with teachers and students reporting that "the new approach is the best, most effective way to teach and learn science." Specifically, the new grant will be used to purchase science curriculum kits that align with the National Science Education Standards for all K-5 classrooms in the three new schools, as well as additional science kits and refurbishment materials for the four second year schools (Four Oaks Elementary, Smithfield Elementary, South Smithfield Elementary, Cooper Elementary) and the original four pilot schools (East Clayton Elementary, Glendale-Kenly Elementary, McGee's Crossroads Elementary and the Princeton Union School).   It also will provide ongoing professional development in the new teaching methodology for the 120 teachers at all 11 schools.

The goal of both the JCS reform initiative and North Carolina's "K-8 Science Infrastructure Project" is to change the way teachers teach and students learn science from a rote memorization, textbook-based approach to one that is experiential and hands-on.  This approach allows students to learn science the way scientists do- by doing it.  The five-year JCS initiative will be instituted in all 23 elementary and middle schools by the 2005-06 school year. "As a science-based company, we know that the only way to truly learn science is to do science.

After all, you wouldn't expect someone to be able to learn to play the piano or paint a picture by reading about it.  Why should science be any different?  Gerry Lewis' show certainly demonstrates that and so does the new curriculum," said Bayer's Kuhn, who made her first public appearance in the community since being named to her new position. "When students learn science in this experiential, hands-on way, it
helps them develop important science literacy skills such as critical thinking, team-working and problem-solving.  And given the increasingly complex, technology-driven world we live in, these skills will only grow more and more critical for students' future success, both personally and professionally."

Science Fun At Home

Bringing science into the home is another goal of MSMS.  To help parents throughout North Carolina share hands-on science with their children at home, Bayer is offering free the "Making Science Make Sense Experiment Guide."  To receive one, parents can send a $.37-cent stamped, self-addressed business size envelope to:



Making Science Make Sense
Bayer Corporation
PP&C
P.O. Box 13887
Research Triangle Park, NC  27709



About Bayer
The worldwide headquarters of Bayer's Biological Products Business Group is located in Research Triangle Park.  Bayer's Biological Products plasma products manufacturing facility is based in Clayton, North Carolina and produces life-saving therapies such as Prolastin  and Gamimune  N.

Best known for its flagship product, Bayer Aspirin, Bayer Corporation produces a broad range of health care, crop protection, polymer, and chemical products that help diagnose and treat diseases, purify water, preserve local landmarks, protect crops, advance automobile safety and durability, and improve people's lives. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, Bayer Corporation had sales of $10.1 billion in 2001 and is one of Fortune magazine's Most Admired Companies.  The company employs 21,500 people.  It is a member of the worldwide Bayer Group, a $27 billion international health care and chemicals group based in Leverkusen, Germany. 


 

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