ScienceMakers Toolkit Manual - The History Makers

Getting the Word Out
Publicizing and spreading the word about your institution’s collaboration with the ScienceMakers project is
a means of improving science education for African American students around the nation. The more people
who are aware of ScienceMakers and its advocacy for African American math and science education, the more
young minds we have a chance of reaching. Included with this guide is a sample press release/informational
letter detailing the project, its goals and its components, to help you answer any questions that may arise as you
introduce ScienceMakers to students, parents and community members.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT
(your name)
(your phone number)
SCIENCEMAKERS DVD TOOLKIT PROGRAM ENCOURAGES AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENTS TO
CATCH THE SCIENCE BUG
A groundbreaking National Science Foundation-funded effort by The HistoryMakers, a Chicago-based African
American video oral history archive, is intended for students of all ages. Its innovative DVD Toolkit features
interview footage from some of the foremost African American scientists and mathematicians in the country,
conceived and executed with the guidance of a prestigious board of advisors from organizations such as the
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and the National Academy of Science. The
multimedia interviews are just one component of the Toolkit, however. Also included is an extensive booklet of
original written curriculum material for use by educators, program coordinators, parents or anyone else who has
interest in learning more about African Americans and their accomplishments in the STEM professions.
The achievement gap in math and science between African American students and those of other ethnic groups
is well-documented nationally. This gap extends well into adult life and careers, as African Americans comprise
only 6.9% of our nation’s STEM workforce according to the 2006 National Science Foundation Science Indicators
Report. In order to increase the number of African Americans, women and other minorities in the STEM
(science, technology, engineering and math) professions, it is important to highlight the contributions of African
American scientists as inspiring examples, and the ScienceMakers DVD Toolkit does just that.
Many of the scientists featured in the ScienceMakers collection cite a favorite teacher who gave them a book
or a chemistry set that set them down the path to becoming a successful scientist. The ScienceMakers DVD
Toolkit includes media clips, experiments, complete biographies and thought-provoking discussion questions.
The kits are available to science educators inside and outside of school communities and will also be featured at
several of the most notable science centers in the country: The Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, the
Columbus Center of Science and Industry, and the Saint Louis Science Center.
Scientists, researchers and educators featured in the ScienceMakers DVD Toolkit are:
Albert Antoine, chemist
Clayton Bates, Jr., physicist
Joanne Berger-Sweeney, neurobiologist
James Bowman, geneticist and pathologist
Wayne Bowen, neurobiologist
Alfred Brothers, Jr., aeronautical engineer
George Campbell, Jr., physicist
Edwin Cooper, immunobiologist
S. Allen Counter, neurophysiologist
Darnell Diggs, physicist
Julian Earls, NASA administrator
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Media Guide