Beth McGrath testifies before House Appropriations SubCommittee

HOBOKEN, N.J. ― Beth McGrath , Director of the Center for Innovation in Engineering and Science Education (CIESE) at Stevens Institute of Technology, testified in front of the House Appropriations SubCommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies on April 2. In her testimony, McGrath discussed CIESE’s work and how it has been positively impacted by funding from the National Science Foundation.

Specifically, McGrath discussed the $1.2 million NSF Information Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST) program, whose objective is to motivate students—particularly those from underrepresented groups—to pursue study and careers in engineering, science and information technology.

In her testimony, McGrath said, “Over three years, this grant will have impacted more than 2,600 middle and high school students largely from urban, disadvantaged school districts such as Newark, Jersey City, and Camden, New Jersey. In this project, students work in teams to design, build, and deploy remotely- operated vehicles—robots constructed from LEGO materials, motors, and controlled by wire-guided switches—to perform a series of increasingly complex challenges in an underwater environment. Students learn and test their understanding of sometimes abstract and difficult concepts such as buoyancy, gears, and electricity. During this first year of classroom implementation, the project is showing an impressive impact on student learning of these concepts, as well teachers’ assessment of their students’ problem-solving abilities, engagement, motivation, and ability to work in teams. In addition, a critical objective of this grant is to bolster the understanding of guidance counselors about the need for and diverse career paths available to students who pursue Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and IT study and careers, and to break down stereotypes about the gender and ethnic backgrounds of those suited to pursue engineering and technical professions, so that more students will be encouraged to pursue these fields.

“Teacher Aaryenne White of Veteran’s Middle School in Camden, New Jersey, a district in which 91% of students participate in the federal lunch program, wrote about the project:

‘I cannot fully express how the BUILD-IT Program has changed our students. Contrary to the media's repeated image of the lackadaisical inner city student, I am often overwhelmed with students who attempt to show their talent and ability. I am even approached by students in lower grades who ask me what they should do to be in the class next year.  My students are excited with dreams and possibilities fueled by their new levels of confidence and focus. I have been able to introduce my students to a new world of goals and careers they never thought about or knew existed.  I thank you and your program for helping me help my students look toward new challenges.’”

To read the full text of McGrath’s testimony, click here

About Stevens Institute of Technology

Founded in 1870, Stevens Institute of Technology is one of the leading technological universities in the world dedicated to learning and research. Through its broad-based curricula, nurturing of creative inventiveness, and cross disciplinary research, the Institute is at the forefront of global challenges in engineering, science, and technology management. Partnerships and collaboration between, and among, business, industry, government and other universities contribute to the enriched environment of the Institute. A new model for technology commercialization in academe, known as Technogenesis®, involves external partners in launching business enterprises to create broad opportunities and shared value.

Stevens offers baccalaureates, master’s and doctoral degrees in engineering, science, computer science and management, in addition to a baccalaureate degree in the humanities and liberal arts, and in business and technology. The university has a total enrollment of 2,040 undergraduate and 3,085 graduate students, and a worldwide online enrollment of 2,250, with a full-time tenured/tenure-track faculty of 140 and more than 200 full-time special faculty. Stevens’ graduate programs have attracted international participation from China, India, Southeast Asia, Europe and Latin America. Additional information may be obtained from its web page at www.stevens.edu.  

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