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Governor's School Focuses On Math, Science Skills

Posted on: Monday, 22 August 2005, 03:00 CDT

Students who show promise in math and science can use some extra attention, too.

At the Governor's School for Math and Science (GSMS), rising eighthand ninth-graders get a twoweek immersion at West Virginia University each summer.

"We let them go as far and as fast as they can in all sorts of areas in math and science," said GSMS Instructor Keith Garbutt, also director of the WVU Honors Program and a professor of biology. "We show them that mathematics and science can be a lot of fun - that it's not just for the nerds. It's something that you can make a career out of for the rest of your life."

During the first half of the camp, Garbutt said, students attend handson sessions where they explore principles related to an overarching final project. One day they might go to a local motorcycle dealership to measure motorcycles and consider models and scales.

"It's really math they're doing, but it's a lot of fun for them," Garbutt said.

Another day they might go to a skateboard park for lessons in vectors and velocities, he said.

In the second half of the camp, they work in groups of five on a final project. Past projects have included designs for an amusement park and a space station. This year's is a major sports complex.

Students come from all across West Virginia. Now in its fourth year, the program's approximately 120 students will attend in two groups of 30 at WVU and, for the first time, in a group of 60 at the National Radio Astronomy Observation Center at Green Bank in Pocahontas County.

Past participants Garbutt has spoken with have remained excited about math and science, he said.

"And to be honest, that's the hardest thing - to keep kids excited through high school," he said. "If we can get them at this age, show them people like me and others here who make a living by doing science, then they'll go on and be the mathematicians and scientists of the future."

Garbutt sees a direct link to economic development.

"Science is what drives our economy, whether we like it or not," he said. "If we don't generate that cadre of future scientists, we'll lose our lead in the world."

The Governor's School was started by Gov. Bob Wise and is continued through the efforts of the state Department of Education and the Arts, the West Virginia Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research and the host institutions.

Copyright State Journal Corporation Jul 29, 2005

Source: State Journal, The

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