Amgen and European Schoolnet Launch New Professional Development Initiative for Life Science Teachers

01-03-2012: The Amgen Foundation and European Schoolnet launched the "Amgen Science Teacher Training Initiative" in France, Germany, Ireland and Poland.

The Amgen Science Teacher Training Initiative provides professional development for secondary school science teachers to help them incorporate hands-on enquiry-based science education in their classrooms. The initiative will focus on those teaching science, principally biology and chemistry, to students aged 12 to 18.

Funded by the Amgen Foundation and coordinated by European Schoolnet, this initiative is being launched as a pilot program in Paris, Munich, Dublin and Warsaw. Training centers in each location have been carefully selected based on their experience and expertise in running professional development programs focused on enquiry-based science education for secondary life sciences teachers. The 2012 training institute partners are: French National Museum of Natural History in France, Deutsches Museum in Germany, Centre for the Advancement of Science and Mathematics Teaching & Learning (CASTeL) in Ireland and Warsaw Centre for Socio-Educational Innovation and Training (WCIES) in Poland. Approximately 500 teachers are expected to participate in face-to-face and online training sessions in 2012.

"Research by the European Commission highlights that in order to increase student interest and achievement in sciences, teachers should incorporate enquiry-based methods to their classrooms," said Marc Durando, executive director, European Schoolnet. "Yet, many teachers think that the available continuing professional development opportunities do not meet their needs to implement these techniques. Therefore, we expect very positive outcomes from this new initiative and are delighted by this new collaboration with the Amgen Foundation."

"The Amgen Foundation is committed to strengthening science education by providing vital professional development opportunities for science teachers," said Jean Lim Terra, president, Amgen Foundation. "Amgen, as a science-based company, has the privilege and the responsibility to support European teachers who are inspiring the next generation of citizens and scientists. We are especially pleased to collaborate with European Schoolnet in this effort."