Meeting of the Board of Regents | February 2008

SUMMARY

Issue for Decision

Should SED participate in the World Science Festival?

Proposed Handling

This question will come before the Cultural Education Committee at its meeting in February 2008.

Background Information

              The Board of Regents and State Education Department have been asked to be a partner in the 2008 World Science Festival in New York City. This event’s mission is “to cultivate and sustain a general public informed by the content of science, inspired by its wonder, convinced of its value, and prepared to engage with its implications for the future”. The World Science Festival has brought together an all-star cast of the best minds in science, technology, business, academia and the arts to further the understanding of science in our society. The Festival Foundation led by Columbia University and the Aspen Institute will organize the five day festival from May 28 through June 1, 2008 with a Summit of leaders in science, as well as programs at locations across the City all five days. They include Youth and Family programs, Science and Cultural programs and public forums with inspirational presentations by Nobel Laureates. In addition, the World Science Festival, while centered in New York City for five days, is the launching of a yearlong schedule of events that would celebrate science and learning.

The list of partner organizations include but is not limited to New York University, City University of New York, Lincoln Center, Metropolitan Museum of Art, American Museum of Natural History, New York Public Library, New York Hall of Science, the Mayor’s Office and the New York City Department of Education. The World Science festival has focused on New York City institutions in its first year with hopes to go statewide in the future.

Recommendation

The Board of Regents and the New York State Education Department should agree to be listed as the first statewide partner organization. Staff from the P-16 office and the Cultural Education office will develop a short and long-term plan for participation. In the short-term staff would utilize the USNY network to promote the project. SED would disseminate material to schools across the State. In the long-term, staff will develop a plan on how to integrate the festival findings into school curriculum, expand locations to other cities across New York State in year two and develop an expansion model that could be used to launch festivals to other states as it grows.