|
Thursday, 31 May 2007 |
|
Page 2 of 2
Other area businesses, including HillSouth, the Florence Morning News, McLeod Health, Atlantic Industries and Hyman Law Firm, have representatives on ScienceSouth’s board of trustees.
The importance of exposing children to science at an early age is essential in today’s highly technological society, Cox said. Jobs in science and technology are in high demand and by providing students with the tools necessary to nurture an interest in science, South Carolina is investing in its future.
“We want to compete globally for jobs, especially high-tech jobs, but in order to be able to do that we must have a strong work force,” Cox said. “Right now, there’s no way the school system in this region has the infrastructure to provide hands-on learning to students, and there aren’t enough students pursuing science as a career.”
ScienceSouth is changing all that and hopes to be able to expand its services in the future to serve students in other regions and eventually statewide. The most immediate goal is to begin construction on a permanent home that would function as an interactive science museum for families in the Pee Dee region, as well as a base for the program’s mobile laboratories.
Having secured $1 million in federal funds with the help of Reps. James Spratt, D-S.C., and James Clyburn, D-S.C., ScienceSouth is planning to begin construction on a 5,000-square-foot prototype facility in Florence in 2008, a step closer to finding a permanent home.
“We’ve proven that the need for this program exists, and that the interest is there as well,” Kirby said. “Now we’re moving to the next level, exploring the possibility of a statewide program and working on a permanent facility. All of this benefits the region and the entire state because it is important to raise awareness about science-related fields and this is a cost-effective and exciting way to do just that.”
<< Start < Prev 1 2 Next > End >>
|
