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Mary Frances-
 
There are NSF sponsored projects throughout the country called GK-12 Programs.  Here is a short synopsis of the program from the NSF web site http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5472 :
 
"This program provides funding to graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines to acquire additional skills that will broadly prepare them for professional and scientific careers in the 21st century. Through interactions with teachers and students in K-12 schools and with other graduate fellows and faculty from STEM disciplines, graduate students can improve communication, teaching, collaboration, and team building skills while enriching STEM learning and instruction in K-12 schools. Through this experience, graduate students can gain a deeper understanding of their own STEM research. In addition, the GK-12 program provides institutions of higher education with an opportunity to make a permanent change in their graduate programs by incorporating GK-12 like activities in the training of their STEM graduate students. Expected outcomes include improved communication, teaching, collaboration, and team building skills for the fellows; professional development opportunities for K-12 teachers; enriched learning for K-12 students; and strengthened and sustained partnerships in STEM between institutions of higher education and local school districts."
 
While the focus of the work is on graduate students in STEM fields, many of the projects (there are about 170 active programs) utilize PD that could easily be modified for working with active practicing scientists.  Many also incorporate mentor faculty in their PD sessions.  My program at the University of Idaho provides a 1-credit "Communicating Science" seminar during the summer to the graduate fellows.  I know UW and WWU have GK-12 programs in your area so you might contact them to see what they have going.  Also the K-12 Institute on the UW campus does a lot of professional development work with their scientists in outreach projects.
 
You might also contact the organizers for the "Communicating Science to Broader Audiences" conference that was held last spring at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln.  They were hoping to find further funding to continue their work to develop pathways for supporting scientists to enhance their outreach opportunities and skills.  See this link for contact information:
http://physics.unl.edu/~diandra/communicatingscience/
 
Good luck with your project.  Paul

********************* Paul J. Allan 524 Spotswood St. Moscow, ID 83843 208-883-9502 [log in to unmask] For hands-on science fun, visit the Palouse Discovery Science Center at www.palousescience.org
 
 
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