US Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon) visited Eugene’s Churchill High School to discuss his science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education proposals.  Introduced last month, the STEM Education for the Global Economy Act aims to improve student engagement in and increase student access to STEM subjects, recruit, train, and support highly-effective teachers in STEM subject, and close student achievement gaps.

Dean Livelybrooks, co-director of the University of Oregon Center for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Career through Outreach, Research, & Education (STEM CORE), was invited to join Senator Merkley on his visit to Churchill High School. STEM CORE is a consortium of UO science, math and education faculty, STEM outreach and education program coordination staff, community college faculty, K-12 collaborators, STEM industry and government partners and supporters. The primary goal of STEM CORE is to produce a broader and deeper pool of STEM talent in Oregon and nationally through the development of efficient and effective models for student learning and engagement, and by forging new collaborations among education faculty, K-12 educators, science researchers, mathematicians, STEM industries and government partners.

Oregon Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian and Eugene 4J School District Superintendent Shelley Berman also joined Senator Merkley for the event.