Credits, Accolades, & Outreach Efforts

Authors

The N.J. 4-H Science Discovery Series was developed by faculty and staff of Cook College and Rutgers Cooperative Extension; Keith G. Diem, Ph.D., Project Director & Editor. Curriculum development team members included the following:

Volume 1:
Laura Bovitz, Keith G. Diem, Ph.D., Betty Jean Jesuncosky, Mary Lou Mayfield, James Nichnadowicz, and Jeannette Rea-Keywood. Initial funding provided by a Rutgers Cooperative Extension Innovative Grant. Financial assistance for initial publishing was provided by a grant from Bristol-Myers-Squibb.

Volume 2:
Keith G. Diem, Ph.D.; Rebecca Gardner; Betty Jean Jesuncosky; Anna Matteoda, Ph.D.; Kevin Mitchell; James Nichnadowicz; Jeannette Rea-Keywood; and Lisa Rothenburger. Partial funding was provided by a grant from the N.J. 4-H Development Fund.

Reviewers for subject matter accuracy included: Kefyn Catley, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Science Education, Department of Learning and Teaching, Graduate School of Education, Rutgers University; and Research Associate, Division of Invertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History; Keith R. Arnesen, Assistant State Climatologist, Department of Environmental Sciences (Meteorology Program), Cook College, Rutgers University; Wil van der Veen, Ph.D., Adjunct Associate Research Scientist for Columbia University; Scott Glenn, Ph.D., Professor of Oceanography, Institute for Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University; Dennis DeMatte, Recycling Coordinator, Cumberland County Improvement Authority.

Web site:
Keith G. Diem, Ph.D., Educational Design Specialist. Graphics and design contributions by Phil Wisneski, Web Site Development Coordinator, Cook College Computing Services. All photos by Keith G. Diem unless otherwise noted.

Accolades
Indication of adoption and program quality have been the grant funding acquired, along with awards and recognition received:

• The Science Discovery Series was initially funded with a Rutgers Cooperative Extension Innovative Grant and later received additional funding from Bristol-Myers Squibb, and the NJ 4-H Development Fund.

• It has received numerous awards, such as:

  • "Best of the Best" Team Award from Rutgers Cooperative Extension

  • State Team Award from NJ Chapter of Epsilon Sigma Phi

  • Citation for Outstanding Service and Excellence in 4-H Programming Award from the New Jersey Association of 4-H Agents

  • National Communicator Awards and regional Natural Resources/Environmental Stewardship Awards (both volume 1 &2 ) from the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents.

  • The Science Discovery Kits were recognized as a CSREES National Program of Excellence in 2000.

  • This supporting web site (www.discoverscience.rutgers.edu) was awarded a regional NAE4-HA Educational Technology Award in 2001.

• It was the first (and still only) New Jersey publication accepted into the prestigious juried National 4-H Curriculum Collection.

• SDS was recently accepted to be marketed by National 4-H Cooperative Curriculum System (4HCCS), which will promote nationwide use of the curriculum and should help make the printed curriculum self-sustaining

 Outreach Efforts

After initial pilot testing, the Science Discovery Series has been used by a variety of educators throughout New Jersey and beyond.  Hundreds of teachers, Extension staff, and others have been trained to use the hands-on SDS activities to improve science education and youth development. Acceptance of the curriculum has been demonstrated by the variety of presentations and articles about the Science Discovery Series, which have included:

• Workshop at Alliance for NJ Environmental Education (ANJEE) conference

• NJ Science Teachers Convention seminars and pre-conference workshops.

• Workshop at Pennsylvania Alliance for Environmental Education conference

• NJ Community Connections Conference

• NJ Southern Regional CYFAR (Children, Youth, & Families at Risk) Conference

• Article in New Jersey Science Teachers Association newsletter

• Workshops at NJ Council for Elementary Science teacher conferences at Rider University and Middlesex County College.

• Article in Northeast Sciencing newsletter produced by Cornell Cooperative Extension

• Seminars at National Association of Extension 4-H Agents conference

• Workshop at National Science and Technology Symposium (Orlando, FL).

• Poster presentations at NJ 4-H Science Olympiad and Rutgers Cooperative Extension Annual Conferences.

• Featured in articles in National Science Teacher Association Sciencescope and Science With Children (refereed) journals.

• NJ 4-H Camp staff training.

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