Mission & objectives

Science Overdrive aims to develop an interest in, and instill a passion for science through active collaboration between secondary science teachers and K-8 science teachers.

A local perspective

In addition to sharing our passion for science and science education, our goals keep in mind the daily life of a teacher. We strive to:

A national & international perspective

Young students (grade 8 and below) who are interested in and encouraged in science are more likely to graduate with college degree in science. In a 2006 study by UVA's Dr. Robert Tai [1], 8th graders who expected to have science-related careers were 3.4 times more likely to earn a Bachelors in the physical sciences or engineering than students without similar expectations. Science Overdrive is keenly aware of the dire state of science in the U.S. [2] [3], and its decreasing rate of home-grown scientists. An educated, science-aware, and technologically advancing culture is the basis for economic growth in the modern world we live in. With this in mind, we strive to:

  1. Tai, Robert H., Christine Qi Liu, Adam V. Matlese, Xitao Fan. "Planning Early for Careers in Science". Science. Vol 312. 26 May 2006.
  2. "Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future". Committee on Prospering in the Global Economy of the 21st Century: And Agenda for American Science and Technology, National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, Institute of Medicine. (c) The National Academic Press. 2005.
  3. Mooney, Chris, Sheril Kirshenbaum. "Unscientific America: How Scientific Illiteracy Threatens Our Future". Basic Books. 2009.