Albany – State University of New York Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher today announced a new partnership between SUNY and Battelle Memorial Institute to activate regional hubs of the Empire State STEM Learning Network (Empire STEM), a community-led collaborative advancing the interdisciplinary teaching and learning of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in order to prepare all New York students for success in school, work, and life.

As part of this new partnership, Chancellor Zimpher will form a Board of Champions that will guide Empire STEM in its transition from incubation to implementation, and Empire STEM Director Margaret Ashida has joined the staff of SUNY Senior Vice Chancellor for Community Colleges and the Education Pipeline Johanna Duncan-Poitier

“A major component of our strategic plan, The Power of SUNY, is to be an active leader in strengthening New York’s education pipeline and increasing student success from cradle to career, and the Battelle partnership will enhance our ability to carry out this vision,” said Chancellor Zimpher. “The preparation of teachers in STEM fields is paramount to the success of their students both prior to and during college, and ultimately, it builds a stronger workforce for New York State.

“Battelle is one of the nation’s leading charitable trusts that supports and promotes STEM education, and I thank them for their support as well as their confidence in SUNY’s ability to foster the Empire STEM Network.”

“For the future competitiveness of our nation, it is critical that we inspire, motivate, and educate the next generation of scientists, engineers, and technology leaders,” said The Honorable Eric D. Fingerhut, Vice President, Education and STEM Learning at Battelle, former U.S. Congressman, and the former Chancellor of the University System of Ohio. “Battelle is pleased to be partnering with SUNY in this important effort to encourage the development of innovative STEM education across the state of New York.”

Battelle, with funding support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and others, is activating a multi-state STEM network to advance college-ready learning, empower effective teaching, and promote innovation.

The Empire STEM Network, incubated at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, is already working with communities across the state to form interconnected regional STEM teaching and learning hubs with action plans relevant to local needs, capacities, and priorities that are aligned to Empire STEM’s statewide mission, vision, and design principles to prepare students for success. It is also partnering with business, professional associations, and other organizations with statewide and national interests in advancing STEM teaching and learning.

The Empire STEM Network was originally conceived and launched by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and supported by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to convene stakeholders to identify ways to advance pre-kindergarten through college education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics across New York State, and thereby prepare the next generation of New York’s graduates to innovate and compete in the global economy.

About the Empire State STEM Learning Network
The Empire State STEM Learning Network (Empire STEM) is a community-led collaborative advancing the interdisciplinary teaching and learning of science, technology, engineering and mathematics to prepare all students across New York State for success in school, work and life. To learn more about how Empire STEM helps communities to connect, collaborate and compete, visit www.empirestem.org

About Battelle Memorial Institute
As the world’s largest independent research and development organization, Battelle provides innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing needs through its four global businesses: Laboratory Management; National Security; Health and Life Sciences; and Energy, Environment and Material Sciences. It advances scientific discovery and application by conducting $6.5 billion in global R&D annually through contract research, laboratory management and technology commercialization. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Battelle oversees 22,000 employees in more than 130 locations worldwide, including seven national laboratories which Battelle manages or co-manages for the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and a nuclear energy lab in the United Kingdom. For more information, visit www.battelle.org.

About the State University of New York
The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive university system in the United States, educating more than 467,000 students in more than 7,500 degree and certificate programs on 64 campuses with nearly 3 million alumni around the globe. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunity, visit www.suny.edu www.suny.edu.

The Empire State STEM Learning Network - Empire STEM - is a community-led collaborative advancing the interdisciplinary teaching and learning of science, technology, engineering and mathematics to prepare all students across New York State for success in school, work and life.

The Empire State STEM Learning Network incubated by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Battelle and the AT&T Foundation, is building the capacity of local communities to create and institute innovative and sustainable STEM schools, policies, programs, platforms and partnerships across the state to improve the college- and career-readiness of all students. The Network also collaborates with other state STEM networks to learn from one another’s experiences and leverage successes.