As one of the world’s foremost biotechnology companies, Amgen is keenly aware of the value and importance of science education. That is why we support science education programs aimed at encouraging bright young minds to explore a future in science. By improving access to resources for students and teachers and raising the community’s understanding of the value of science literacy, Amgen is doing its part to develop the scientists of tomorrow.
Amgen and the Amgen Foundation support local and national organizations that spark students’ interest in the sciences through inquiry-based hands-on science experiences and that offer professional development opportunities for teachers.
The Amgen Award for Science Teaching Excellence (AASTE) is an annual awards program sponsored by Amgen that recognizes extraordinary contributions by educators across the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada who are elevating the level of science literacy through creativity in the classroom and motivation of students. An independent panel of judges selects the winners based on the following criteria: creativity of teaching methods; effectiveness in the classroom; the plan for the use of grant money to improve science education resources in their schools; a science lesson plan showcasing innovative methods in the classroom; and a plan for dissemination/sharing the lesson plan with other teachers. Since the program’s inception in 1992, Amgen has awarded more than $2 million dollars to educators who have made extraordinary contributions to science teaching and who have had a measurable impact on the lives of their students. more >
Amgen Scholars is a $25 million, eight-year program supported by the Amgen Foundation that will provide pivotal research experiences for students interested in pursuing a graduate degree and a career in science. The program launched in the summer of 2007 with approximately 250 undergraduate students from nearly 100 different colleges and universities across the nation. more >
Designed by Amgen scientists in cooperation with high school and community college instructors, the Amgen-Bruce Wallace Biotechnology Lab Program is an educational outreach program funded by the Amgen Foundation that provides equipment, curriculum assistance and supplies to high schools and colleges. The program integrates a hands-on, inquiry-based molecular biology curriculum designed to introduce, with extensive teacher support, the excitement of scientific discovery to students. Each year, over 10,000 high school and college students and faculty participate in this laboratory experience and have the opportunity to explore the steps involved in creating biotechnology therapeutics. The reach of this program has been extraordinary—with over 100,000 students exposed to the fundamentals of biotechnology across multiple states.
Teach For America Mathematics and Science Partnership
The Amgen Foundation’s $5 million, five-year partnership with Teach For America is a targeted effort to dramatically improve math and science education, especially in low-income communities. By recruiting top college graduates with math and science degrees as “Amgen Fellows” to teach in these communities, we hope to inspire young children to explore a future in science while developing a new generation of leaders in education.
The Amgen Foundation supports 50 new Amgen Fellows each year. In addition to sponsoring an annual mathematics and science summit, the grant supports the recruitment, training, and development of the Amgen Fellows. The partnership will allow Teach For America to double the number of math and science graduates who join Teach For America’s teaching corps by 2010.
NSTA New Science Teacher Academy
The National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) New Science Teacher Academy, co-founded by the Amgen Foundation with a three-year, $3 million grant, is a professional development initiative created to help strengthen quality science teaching, enhance teacher confidence and classroom excellence, and improve teacher knowledge of scientific subject matter.
Research shows that 40-50 percent of new teachers leave the profession in the first five years on the job. To better retain promising new math and science teachers, Amgen-NSTA Fellows receive meaningful professional development opportunities through mentoring by seasoned teachers in their own discipline, the opportunity to attend NSTA's National Conference on Science Education, and access to a wide variety of content-rich, online resources to support their effectiveness in the classroom.
