Scientists in Elementary Schools

On August 24, Nashville's WSMV Channel 4 highlighted the Scientist in the Classroom Partnership's (SCP) first foray into Metropolitan Nashville Public School's (MNPS) elementary schools with a story about Leah Potter, a Vanderbilt doctoral student in molecular physiology and biophysics working with Hattie Cotton Elementary School's second grade classes.

Hattie Cotton Elementary School is a part of the Stratford Cluster of schools which has a focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Hattie Cotton students will attend Bailey and Litton Middle Schools where they will also have scientists from the SCP program in their science classrooms. Once they reach Stratford High School, the Academy of Science and Engineering will further their STEM education with programs like the Center for Science Outreach's Interdisciplinary Science and Research program.

In addition to Ms. Potter, this year the SCP program has three other Vanderbilt doctoral students at Hattie Cotton - Janina Jeff, interdisciplinary materials science; Laura Poff, transportation engineering; and Lauren Palladino, astrophysics - as well as graduate students, doctoral students, and postdoctoral fellows from Vanderbilt University, Fisk University, and Tennessee State University at Antioch, Bailey, DuPont-Tyler, Litton, Moore, and Wright Middle Schools, and Hillsboro and Stratford High Schools.

Source: "Vandy scientists want to make science fun for Metro students" [WSMV or view as a PDF]