The Best of Our Knowledge # 967

Albany, NY – THE PROMISE OF EDUCATION -

Now that the Stimulus Package dollars are starting to roll into the economy, attention has turned to President Barack Obama's fiscal year 2010 budget.

While complete details will not be known for a few weeks, Mr. Obama has clearly identified education, energy, and health care as "three areas absolutely critical to our economic future."

In an address to a joint session of congress, the president promised to increase federal spending on education. And he urged all Americans to pursue "a year or more" of higher education or career training.

These edited excerpts give us a good indication of where the new president wants to take education during his tenure in the oval office.

President Barack Obama, in his own words. (3:59)

AAAS SPEAKS OUT ON SCIENCE EDUCATION IN AMERICA -

When President Obama speaks, he often talks about the importance of science education. This spotlight on science has renewed the hopes of the science community.

Dr. Alan Leshner, the Chief Executive Officer of AAAS, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, believes the struggling economy is directly linked to a lack of funding for research and development, and science education.

Dr. Leshner hopes Obama administration policies will help make U.S. students more science literate and boost America's science ranking in the world.

Allison Dunne reports. (7:48)

**(Attention Listeners and Program Directors. The website mentioned at the conclusion of the above story for those seeking additional information about the American Association for the Advancement of Science is: www.aaas.org.)**

SCIENCE RESEARCH AND SCIENCE JOBS, Pt. 1 of 2 -

The current recession is impacting more than banks, the housing industry, and your personal finances. State budget cuts, and a natural time lag in new federal spending, is straining research labs and their scientists.

The Environment Report's Adam Allington discovers how the economic crisis is having a long term effect on science innovation and science jobs.

The Environment Report's, Adam Allington reports. (3:18)

VOICES IN EDUCATION -

And finally in our science and math themed show today, we wanted to share the voice of a classroom teacher from Seattle, Washington.

Teacher, Michael Sparks. (2:31)