NCSCE welcomes the opportunity to recognize the work of the many people who encourage greater civic engagement and the improvement of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education for all students. To this end, NCSCE has created programs and awards to honor educators, administrators, students, and members of the public.
The William E. Bennett Award
for Extraordinary Contributions to Citizen Science
The William E. Bennett Award for Extraordinary Contributions to Citizen Science was established by NCSCE and named in honor of its first recipient for his lifetime contributions to citizen science. The first award was presented to its namesake at a ceremony on Capitol Hill on March 31, 2009.
The William E. Bennett Award will be awarded annually to a person, team or institution whose SENCER and other related activities have made exemplary and extraordinary contributions to citizen science.
To nominate a colleague, please send a letter that will allow the review committee to assess the individual’s contributions to citizen science. A CV for the nominated individual should be included, and up to two supporting letters of support may be submitted but are not required. The individual selected to receive the Bennett Award will be invited to the 2010 NCSCE Washington Symposium and Capitol Hill Poster Session, during which he or she will be recognized for their achievements.
Nominations must be sent to NCSCE by March 1, 2010. The winner will be notified with enough time to plan to travel to Washington for the ceremony, and the awardee's travel costs will be supported by NCSCE.
The SENCER Leadership Fellows Program
The Leadership Fellows program offers educators and administrators who have been involved in the SENCER project the opportunity for greater involvement in the SENCER initiative and allows us to recognize the hard work of those who have developed strong programs on campus. We hope that this program will help to broaden the impact of individual SENCER activities and allow us to access the expertise and advice of our alumni on a greater scale.
Fellows serve 18-month terms, and are asked to identify specific activities that will become the foci of their Fellowship. Ideally, each Fellow commits to: (1) promoting wider campus adoption of SENCER principles in undergraduate STEM courses through presentations, seminars, and informal discussions; (2) guiding the development of at least one additional SENCER project/course on campus; (3) engaging and mentoring other faculty members (and students who intend to be teachers) in implementing SENCER approaches; and (4) connecting with and supporting regional activities, where feasible and appropriate.
Fellows are elected twice each year following submission of an application and review of project plans by the National Fellowship Board. For more information on the Leadership Fellows program, please visit the program's webpage.