History

Starting in 1994 with one faculty member in a borrowed laboratory in Harriman Hall, the Center has now grown to 12 faculty members and three administrators with laboratory and office space in the Life Sciences Building.  As it evolved from a few separate programs to the Long Island Group Advancing Science Education (2004), to the Center for Science and Mathematics Education (2007), it has raised over $25 M in external support.  Starting with a summer program for community college students, it has year round activities for students and teachers from elementary school to the post-doctoral and faculty levels.  Nineteen new undergraduate and graduate courses have been created and over $6 M in fellowships awarded.  Undergraduate students have co-authored over 200 papers and abstracts, more than 80,000 middle and high school students have worked in our Science Teaching Centers, and over 500 teachers have obtained advanced teaching degrees in science and mathematics.  The great majority of Long Island school districts participate in our programs and we’ve collaborated with the majority of science and mathematics departments in writing grants.  Our efforts have led to local, state and national awards and recognition.

In 2015, Provost Dennis Assanis designated CESAME as the new Institute for STEM Education.