In 2006, the 3M Foundation awarded 84 Ingenuity Grants totaling nearly $225,000 to teachers in 13 states. The Ingenuity Grant recognizes public school teachers in grades three through eight and helps them bring new resources into classrooms to raise student interest and achievement in math, science, and economics. Individual grants of up to $3,500 help purchase materials, such as microscopes, calculators, and books, or develop creative teaching methods. The program is targeted to schools in communities where 3M has facilities. Among this year's recipients is junior high school mathematics teacher Jennifer Pirrera's new class project, called "A Design-Build Presentation," covering mathematical reasoning, algebra, measurement, and budgeting. At Humboldt Junior High, an inner-city school in St. Paul, MN, the students in her class design a home and "sell it" to an audience of student owners and contractors. The intent is for students to understand how mathematics and business are applied in real-world situations.

3M and teachers like Pirrera believe that winning a student's heart through interesting (and therefore, enjoyable) activities makes it easier to win a student's mind for serious learning. Since 2003, 3M Ingenuity grants totaling $760,000 have benefited 86,000 students in 3,500 classrooms in 14 states. Click here to see a list of all 2006 3M Ingenuity Grant recipients. Triangle Coalition member, 3M and the 3M Foundation, are committed to supporting innovative and practical initiatives which enhance the quality of life in 3M communities around the world. With the goal of helping to develop productive, educated, and involved citizens, 3M targets programs that address related education, family, and community issues. Science and math education and youth development are top priorities. In addition to education, 3M also supports health and human services, the arts, and environmental efforts.

NASA'S 21ST CENTURY EXPLORER PODCAST COMPETITION

It's an exciting time for educators and students. Before the end of the next decade, NASA astronauts will return to the moon. This time, they're planning to stay -- building outposts and paving the way for eventual journeys to Mars and beyond. Today's students will be tomorrow's explorers. How will space exploration benefit their lives in the future? That's the question asked by a new NASA competition for students ages 11-18. The first NASA 21st Century Explorer Podcast Competition challenges students to create unique audio and video podcasts. The topic: How will space exploration benefit your life in the future? Running from September 1 through October 20, 2006, this competition is open to United States citizens. Students are grouped into two age divisions: 11-14 and 15-18. Each division will have two separate categories: audio podcast and video podcast. First, second, and third place prizes will be awarded in each category and age group. An additional "People's Choice Award" will honor one podcast for each age division. Students may choose to create several podcasts, but only one entry may be submitted for each person. More details and the entry form can be found at the 21st Century Explorer Podcast Competition website. The competition began on September 1, 2006, and ends after the first 1,000 entries are submitted in each category or at midnight on October 20, 2006, whichever comes first.

Through this project, NASA continues its tradition of investing in the nation's education. It is directly tied to the agency's major education goal of attracting and retaining students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines. To compete effectively for the minds, imaginations, and career ambitions of America's young people, NASA is focused on engaging and retaining students in education efforts that encourage their pursuit of disciplines critical to NASA's future engineering, scientific, and technical missions. Winners will be announced at the Space Exploration Conference in Houston, TX, on December 6, 2006. Find out more about other NASA educational initiatives at http://education.nasa.gov.

VERIZON FOUNDATION LAUNCHES ONLINE RESOURCE CENTER TO HELP NONPROFITS INCREASE TECH SAVVY

Triangle Coalition member, the Verizon Foundation, has launched an online initiative designed to help nonprofit organizations around the country operate more efficiently. The new site offers training and online tools ranging from strategies to enhance marketing and communications, to finding technology resources, to techniques to increase fundraising. The Verizon Foundation Resource Center provides free access to a national database of technology resources that include an online library, research papers, articles, and specialists who can assist nonprofits in running their business operations more efficiently. The Center also offers a combination of online, on-demand, and face-to-face training conducted by experts in a variety of fields. Training options are tailored to fit individual schedules and interests. The Verizon Foundation will fund 1,200 grants to pay for the training. The grants are available to nonprofits on a first-come, first-served basis. Nominal fees will be charged for additional training requests.

The Verizon Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Verizon Communications. In 2004, the foundation awarded more than 26,000 grants totaling over $70 million to charitable and nonprofit agencies that focus on improving literacy, computer, and technology skills, and identifying domestic violence solutions. The Foundation uses its resources in the United States and abroad to develop partnerships in technology and connect them with organizations serving the needs of diverse communities, people with disabilities, victims of domestic violence, and the economically and socially disadvantaged. The Foundation also supports Verizon Volunteers, an incentive program that last year encouraged Verizon employees to volunteer 528,000 hours in their communities and provided $37.6 million in combined contributions to charitable and nonprofit organizations. For more information on the foundation, visit www.verizon.com/foundation.

A leading not-for-profit research and development organization, Triangle Coalition member, TERC, has been championing innovation and improvement in mathematics, science, and technology learning and teaching since 1965. Through research, curriculum development, professional development, and applications of technology, TERC provides opportunities for learners of all ages to come together and engage in robust and reflective inquiry. Based in Cambridge, MA, but national in its endeavors, TERC has pioneered the creation of outstanding, inquiry-based curricula grounded in classroom experience. Through professional development programs, TERC strives to provide educators with learning opportunities that support their efforts in schools and districts locally and across the country. Find out more at www.terc.edu.