A new collaborative group of PIs and Program Managers of K-12 outreach and partnership programs both on and off-campus has been created by the Texas A&M chapter of Sigma Xi, the scientific research society. The network is being created to promote collaborative efforts of university personnel to enhance science and technology education in Texas. The network, called NEST (Network for Education in Science and Technology) is intended to incubate and nurture fledgling outreach enterprises, says William Klemm, professor of veterinary medicine who is involved in organizing NEST.

He adds that the intent of the program is to circumvent barriers among the various campus colleges, to assist existing university outreach and partnership programs and to encourage formation of new programs.

Klemm says the NEST program is not intended to pre-empt or compete with existing programs, but rather to facilitate partnerships and leverage each program's resources, expertise and contacts that will help programs to be more effective.

The networking group will hold monthly lunch meetings and also form an on-line NEST group in Facebook that will provide a way to publicize everyone's programs, announce news, recognize collaborative opportunities and identify people that members don’t know but want to know. The Facebook.com presence will help identify people outside of NEST who can contribute to improving the program’s capacity for improving science, math and technology education.

PIs and PMs in educational outreach and partnership activities who would like to consider participation in the group should contact Klemm at wklemm@cvm.tamu.edu or 845-4201.