Boldly Going Virtual: NSF Provides Funding for a Virtual New York Hall of Science

Press Release

Boldly Going Virtual: NSF Provides Funding for a Virtual New York Hall of Science
10-02-09

Queens, N.Y. — The New York Hall of Science (NYSCI) and the developers of Greater Southern Tier BOCES SciCentr program recently received $800,000 from the National Science Foundation. The three-year grant will fund the creation and management of the Virtual Hall of Science (VHOS).

The goal of VHOS is to further the understanding of virtual environments and their effectiveness in terms of building information and communication technology (ICT) skills and student knowledge of workforce preparation. The project will be designed for long-term sustainability through collaboration with state and regional cooperative service professional development programs. A diverse team of 40 high school students, with support provided by scientists and education professionals, will design, build and staff VHOS.

Ultimately, the online center will be a viable resource for students—making science concepts accessible and easy to understand. In addition, 120 middle school will receive formal training so they can effectively plan, develop and manage VHOS. The students will be encouraged to learn and practice workforce skills in six areas identified by International Society for Technology Education (ISTE).

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering. In fiscal year (FY) 2009, its budget is $9.5 billion, which includes $3.0 billion provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to over 1,900 universities and institutions. Each year, NSF receives about 44,400 competitive requests for funding, and makes over 11,500 new funding awards. NSF also awards over $400 million in professional and service contracts yearly.

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