Senate Approves Sen. Robbins' Science in Motion Bill

Senate Bill 472 would formally enact the award-winning program in PA

The Senate today approved Senate Bill 472, a bill introduced by state Senator Bob Robbins (R-50) to formally enact into law the highly-touted Science Technology Partnerships Program, better known as "Science in Motion."

The measure now goes to the state House of Representatives for consideration.

"This is a major step in protecting this outstanding program," Senator Robbins said. "Over the past few years, the Governor has cut funding in each of his budget proposals and the Legislature has been forced to restore the money as part of the budget negotiations. With this vote today, the Senate is making it crystal clear that it supports Science in Motion."

The program, which is already in place in many areas of the Commonwealth, makes state funding available to higher education institutions to purchase high tech science equipment. This equipment is then transported to and shared with surrounding schools.

"The truth is American students are lagging behind many other western nations in the fields of math and science. I strongly believe that we must support partnerships between colleges and high schools as a way to encourage young people to explore those technical fields," Senator Robbins said. "Science in Motion is an outstanding program that gives students the opportunity to go beyond the textbook and see that science is a field that has no boundaries, limited only by the imagination."

Science in Motion has been featured on ABC News with Peter Jennings and it won the 2003 Innovations Award from the National Council of State Governments. "Most importantly, it has also spurred other states to duplicate the program; however, Pennsylvania has yet to fully commit to it." Senator Robbins said.

This past year, more than 300 public, private, and parochial schools were served throughout the state by 11 higher education institutions: Cedar Crest College, Clarion University, Drexel University, Gannon University, Gettysburg College, Juniata College, Susquehanna University, the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, Ursinus College, Westminster College, and Wilkes University.

Background information about Science in Motion, including the program's most recent Annual Report, is available at www.scienceinmotion.org.

Contact:

Michael Hengst
(717) 787-1322