Battelle to take part in national STEM push

Source: Business First

Nonprofit research giant Battelle is taking part in a nationwide public-private initiative that looks to boost students’ performance in science- and math-focused disciplines.
President Barack Obama on Monday unveiled details of the Educate to Innovate campaign, a multiyear effort that focuses on science, technology, engineering and math – or STEM – learning in schools. Several corporate partners, including Time Warner Cable Inc. (NYSE:TWC) and Intel Corp. (NASDAQ:INTC), have committed a combined $260 million in financial and in-kind support for programming over the next five years, while Columbus-based Battelle and the National Math and Science Institute are on deck as “core partners” to help an advisory board of businesses carry out the initiative.
Battelle spokeswoman Katy Delaney said the nature of the nonprofit’s role is being sketched out, but STEM learning has been a focus of the organization for years. Battelle worked with Ohio State University in 2006 to launch Columbus’ Metro High School, the state’s first STEM-based school, and oversees a 47-college, 81-school district STEM Learning Network in the state.
“As a global research and development leader, STEM is part of Battelle’s DNA,” Battelle CEO Jeffrey Wadsworth said in a statement. “Advancing STEM education for our next generation is not only a cause we deeply believe in, but it is also one of Battelle’s founding purposes.”
The financial backing of the corporations in the campaign is expected to fund hands-on learning and help recruit 100,000 volunteers for STEM-related programs. An annual science fair showcasing student winners in science, technology and robotics also is in the works.