Harrisburg University

The National Center for Science and Civic Engagement (NCSCE) proposes to implement the initial launch of the Science and Civic Engagement Western Network (SCEWestNet), a multi institutional collaborative effort to promote, support and sustain college-level science education reform in the western region of the United States.  Building upon their NSF supported national science education reform project, SENCER (Science Education for New Civic Engagements and Responsibilities), they will overcome the serious obstacle of sustaining and growing reform – and creating an effective community of practice – across the expansive 17 states of the West by creating SCEWestNet.  Two established SENCER Centers of Innovation (SCI) (SCI-West at Santa Clara University and SCI-Southwest at Texas Woman’s University) will anchor SCEWestNet.  The SCIs will work with experienced SENCER leaders in the West to plan an effective set of seven regionally localized organizational units or network nodes.  These seven nodal partners, each working with three new institutions in their area, will work with the SCIs to scale up science education reform efforts.  SCEWestNet will develop a sustainable structure to overcome obstacles of scale and cost and contribute to achieving significant, lasting science education reform.