01/10/08

TITLE: 3M RENEWS SUPPORT FOR RVCC PLANETARIUM PROGRAM
DESCRIPTION:
Time: 10:11:44

ARTICLE

The 3M Corporation, with offices in Flemington, has renewed its annual support for the Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC) Planetarium’s Project ASTRO NOVA with a gift of $2,500.

Project ASTRO NOVA partners astronomers with classroom teachers to enhance learning about astronomy. The astronomer is a resource for the teacher both in and outside the classroom. The relationship provides students with the unique opportunity to have long-term interactions with a scientist. The RVCC program has trained more than 200 teachers and over 120 astronomers, benefitting over 35,000 New Jersey students.

Teachers attend a two-day workshop at the College and then return to the classroom with practical applications for instruction, working together with an assigned astronomer to not only help students meet the NJ astronomy standards, but also to introduce them to the excitement of scientific pursuit.

“The RVCC Planetarium and its Science Education Institute have had a long and beneficial partnership with 3M founded on a shared interest in expanding educational opportunities through innovative teaching,” said Jerry Vinski, planetarium director.

The Planetarium hosts more than 30,000 visitors each year and is now beginning a major effort to raise funds to assist in updating its technology, which dates from its opening in 1990.

For more information about the Planetarium, visit www.raritanval.edu/planetarium. To make a gift to support the Planetarium, contact the RVCC Foundation at 908-526-1200, ext. 8349.