Merck Institute for Science Education Celebrates 10 Years of Changing the Way Science is Taught; Institute Marks Anniversary with New Web Resources for Nation's Teachers.

Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 28, 2003

The Merck Institute for Science Education is marking 10 years of enhancing the learning experiences of thousands of elementary school students and building their enthusiasm for science.

To celebrate this important milestone, the Institute today announced the launch of www.mise.org - a new web site for teachers that shares key insights and resources to help change the way science is taught in elementary and middle school classrooms.

"When we established the Institute 10 years ago, our goal was to raise the levels of participation and performance in science for students in our communities," said Dr. Carlo Parravano, Executive Director of the Merck Institute for Science Education. "We have learned so much about engaging students and teachers in science these past 10 years, and now we would like to share our knowledge with teachers and administrators in other communities so they can benefit from our experiences."

When visitors log on to www.mise.org they can find valuable information on professional development, student assessment, instructional materials and education policy.

Also included on the site is an interactive section called "A Decade of Advances in Medicine," which highlights the most promising advancements in medicine over the last 10 years.

"Working with the Institute and having access to its many resources have helped me engage my students in science in a way that is fun and impactful," said Cindy Apalinski, teacher at School No. 6 in Linden, NJ. "Similar to the other resources the Institute offers, this new web site is incredibly useful for teachers who are seeking to raise student performance in science or are trying to get their students excited about science."

Merck Institute for Science Education: 10 Years of Educational Excellence

Established by Merck & Co., Inc. in 1993, the Institute is dedicated to improving the participation, performance and interest in science among children in grades K-8. The Institute is a one-of-a-kind public/private partnership that couples financial resources and technical assistance with a long-term, focused commitment to positively impact educational policies and practices.

Led by education professionals, the Institute offers a fresh vision and voice to its partner school districts, and responds to the unique needs of educators.

"When the Institute was established 10 years ago, we knew the key to better science education was a dedicated effort focused on teachers," said Parravano. "Now 10 years later we can credit the success of our program to the participating principals and teachers who have been so critical in sparking excitement for science in their own schools and classrooms."

Developed in response to concerns about the quality of science instruction in our schools, the Institute's professional development efforts focus on enabling teachers to make science exciting and meaningful for their students by teaching with a hands-on, investigative approach.

"We aim to help teachers create an environment in their classrooms where students learn about science in the same way that scientists discover new information about our world - through inquiry and experimentation," said Parravano. "Rather than learn about plants and soil in a text book, students collect plant and soil samples, observe them and gather data. As a result, they are asking more questions, testing hypotheses and are gaining a better understanding of science."

Partnering with the school districts of Linden, Rahway and Readington Township in New Jersey and North Penn in Pennsylvania, the Institute has seen notable improvements in students' interest and performance in science. In fact, analysis from the independent research firm the Consortium for Policy Research in Education (CPRE) has found that the Institute has had formidable accomplishments in 10 years, including:

-- Elevating science as a priority in the partnership schools and districts.

-- Establishing the standards of quality for professional development in its partner districts.

-- Working with district administrators, principals and teachers to build professional learning communities in the schools to magnify the positive effects of the formal professional development process.

-- Altering the learning experiences for thousands of students, sparking their interest toward a better understanding of science.

"Ten years ago, Merck recognized that it had a responsibility as an organization founded on science to help improve the state of science education in our schools," said Parravano. "Now more than ever, Merck and the Institute are committed to making sure more schools are able to strengthen their science programs and keep their students engaged in science education."

About Merck

Merck & Co., Inc. is a global research-driven pharmaceutical products and services company. Merck discovers, develops, manufactures and markets a broad range of innovative products to improve human and animal health, directly and through its joint ventures.