I’ve mentioned before that Science is Elemental (SIE) is collaborating with Chemists Without Borders (CWB). Full disclosure, I am the VP of Customer Relations for CWB. However, as it is a purely voluntary position, I don’t see a conflict.

I am excited for the clearinghouses I envisioned to be under the auspices of CWB. CWB will house them, starting as a pilot project, on their website.

Clearinghouses

I wrote about the clearinghouse in an earlier post, but I will recap here. The first clearinghouse provides needed organization to the many science education opportunities one can find on-line. This will make it easier for parents, educators and children to find those opportunities best suited to their interests.

The second clearinghouse will be a continuously updated listing of all of the boards of education meetings at the district level. Hopefully, this one will also contain information about the expected discussions at those meetings. People will have an easy place to find out when board of education meetings are happening in their district. In addition, they should then know when to go to those meetings to speak up for science education.

Current status

Chemists Without Borders has just launched its new website. As they finish the last aspects of this launch, we will start developing the clearinghouse websites, and the processes for creating the clearinghouses. While in the pilot stage, both clearinghouses will be more tightly focused. The content will be limited to virtual opportunities for the first. For the second, we will start with board of education meetings in just one state.

Way forward

To make the clearinghouses happen, Chemists Without Borders, in conjunction with Science is Elemental, needs volunteers from all over the U.S. and the world. If you have an interest in supporting science education, and just a few minutes a day (or week), you can help out. Please send an email to ann.miller@scienceiselemental.org if you are would like to volunteer.