Dr. Jory Weintraub’s task is to translate the mission of NESCent to advance evolutionary science and its applications to multiple and diverse audiences. Whether to the scientific community, underserved minorities, K-12 teachers and students, and the lay public, Dr. Weintraub has established or helped establish highly successful programs. Among the most popular is Darwin Day. Rather than the usual talks attended by scientists on Darwin’s birthday, Dr. Weibtraub envisioned taking science to places that wouldn’t have a Darwin Day. Each February scientists and postdoctoral fellows travel to schools to introduce students to the life and work of Charles Darwin and to delve deeper into the study of evolution. In just three years, the Darwin Day Roadshow has made visits in 16 states.
Jory Weintraub Honored with Outstanding Informal Educator Award in STEM Education
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC – The North Carolina Science, Mathematics, and Technology (SMT) Education Center CEO and President Dr. Samuel Houston announced Saturday that Jory Weintraub, the assistant director of education and outreach at The National Evolutionary Synthesis Center in Durham, N.C. is the 2014 winner of the SMT Center’s Informal Educator of the Year Award. This award recognizes a N.C. informal educator who excels at improving STEM education in North Carolina.
Dr. Jory Weintraub’s task is to translate the mission of NESCent to advance evolutionary science and its applications to multiple and diverse audiences. Whether to the scientific community, underserved minorities, K-12 teachers and students, and the lay public, Dr. Weintraub has established or helped establish highly successful programs such as:
- NESCent Ambassador program trains scientists in underdeveloped countries in evolutionary science, evolutionary informatics, and evolution education.
- Darwin Day Roadshow to celebrate the anniversary of Charles Darwin’s birthday on February 12. Each year, NESCent scientists travel to schools in small-towns across the United States whose teachers have applied to have NESCent visit.
- Undergraduate Diversity at Evolution program, a project that selects and funds approximately 25 minority undergraduate students to travel to the annual Evolution conference, pairs each student with scientist mentor, and promotes their participation in a large scientific conference.
- SALSA! – Science and Learning After School – that is targeted for largely Hispanic schools and students in Durham. This program brings postdoctoral scientists into the afterschool classroom to provide a fun and informative science experience.
“Since the time that I have known him, Dr. Weintraub has been a powerhouse of new ideas on how we can education and excite people about evolution and science in general,” said NESCent Director Dr. Allen Rodrigo. “He works tirelessly on this, but is still able to remain infectiously cheerful and enthusiastic.”
The SMT Celebration was established in 2007 to recognize and acknowledge leaders and innovators in STEM education across North Carolina.
Media Contact: Russ Campbell, 919-667-8866 or news@bwfund.org