published November 18, 2009
US Capitol

NCSCE Invites Applications for the 2010 Washington Symposium

The annual Washington Symposium and Capitol Hill Poster Session provides an opportunity for members of the SENCER community, and now those involved in NCSCE's GLISTEN project, to present work to colleagues and Congress and to engage in discussions on how to continue to improve STEM education for all students.

The 2010 Symposium will be held April 19-21, 2010 in both Washington, DC and College Park, MD. The University of Maryland will co-sponsor the Symposium and host events on April 19th and 21st with support from the Dean for Undergraduate Studies, the Vice President for Research, and the College of Chemical and Life Sciences.

On April 20th, all participants will engage in personal meetings with members of their home congressional delegation, with whom they will be able to discuss how their campus projects are not only improving the welfare of the local community, but also how they are contributing to the improvement of STEM education for all students. During a poster session and reception on Capitol Hill, participants will present their work to colleagues, members of associations and organizations concerned with STEM education and the issues NCSCE initiatives address.

NCSCE strongly encourages all educators interested in participating in the Symposium and Poster Session to select a student to attend as well. Students selected to participate in the Symposium receive a certificate recognizing their contributions to science and civic engagement. Involvement in NCSCE initiatives is open to undergraduate students in all disciplines as well as to graduate students.

The Washington Symposium program will include sessions of interest to all attendees, as well as sessions designed especially for students and faculty at various levels of implementation. The program includes the following:

  • Communicating with Congress for Educators (introductory and advanced)
  • Civic Engagement Workshop for Undergraduate and Graduate Students
  • Panel discussions on how disciplinary associations engage in the policy process
  • Presentations of student work
  • Presentations of campus based work by Symposium attendees
  • A panel discussion on 'The Science We Need for the Challenges We Face' with congressional staff members who have expertise on such issues as the environment, health, agriculture, and financial policy. Panel participants will explore the theme from the perspective of their areas of expertise and special interest.


NCSCE will announce and honor the 2010 recipient of the William E. Bennett Award for Extraordinary Contributions to Citizen Science during the reception on Capitol Hill. The Award was established in 2009 and named in honor of its first recipient for his lifetime contributions to citizen science. For more information on the award, please [link visit http://www.ncsce.net/Initiatives/honors.cfm 'click here'].

Participation in the 2010 Washington Symposium and Poster Session is by invitation only following submission of a brief application. Applications are available online now at the 2010 Washington Symposium and Capitol Hill Poster Session webpage and should be submitted to NCSCE by January 20, 2010. Applicants will be notified of their status by February 4, 2010.