New Educational Program Improves Science Education, Focuses on Career Opportunities
More than 75 Newark high school students and teachers today probe the
challenges and complexities of making medicines when they interact with
research scientists in a roundtable discussion sponsored by RxeSEARCH,
a new educational program about the drug discovery process.
The students come from five Newark high schools: Arts, East Side, West
Side, University and Weequahic. They are piloting the educational
curriculum developed by the National Science Resources Center, an
affiliate of the Smithsonian and the National Academy of Sciences, in
partnership with 11 school districts in five states and the
pharmaceutical industry.
In the event at Newark’s Banneker Science Center, seven research
scientists and physicians from Bristol-Myers Squibb, Schering-Plough
Corporation and Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, discuss career
opportunities and scientific challenges and explain their diverse roles
in the pharmaceutical industry.
Some students participating in the Roundtable are currently enrolled in
the 11-lesson RxeSEARCH curriculum. Others will take the
course next fall. Through the curriculum, students are investigators
battling against a simulated epidemic of an unknown disease. They
determine the cause of the outbreak and seek to develop a treatment or
cure.
“By presenting our students with this fictional story in the classroom,
they begin to understand the motivations and challenges facing the R&D
process. With today’s panel discussion, the story will become a reality
to the students as they meet representatives from the industry who have
faced similar situations in their careers,” said Gayle Griffin,
Assistant Superintendent, Newark Public Schools and Vice-Chair of the RxeSEARCH
Steering Committee.
“Today’s Roundtable is just one example of how the RxeSEARCH
program creates collaborative opportunities between the pharmaceutical
industry and our partner school districts,” said Wesley Metheny, Senior
VP, Alliances, Affordability and Access for the Pharmaceutical Research
and Manufacturers of America and Chair of the RxeSEARCH
Steering Committee.
While the RxeSEARCH program is designed to improve science
and technology teaching and learning, its approach is interdisciplinary.
The curriculum includes not only biology and chemistry but also
mathematics, social studies and language arts. In the process, students
develop skills in problem solving, decision making and critical thinking
while also learning about the broad range of possible career paths in
the pharmaceutical industry from scientist to marketer to physician and
business person.
“An important element of the RxeSEARCH Roundtable is
the teamwork involved in developing medicines. Scientists are at the
core of the R&D process, but the industry also needs good writers,
businesspeople, mathematicians and information technology experts
working together,” said Kevin Rigby, Vice President, Public Affairs,
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation.
“Our quest to discover lifesaving medicines never ends. Neither does our
search for talented scientists and other professionals who can help us
unlock the mysteries of serious disease,” said Anders Hedberg, Director
of Corporate Philanthropy, Bristol-Myers Squibb. “Despite many years of
progress, our society faces significant health challenges. Heart
disease, diabetes and obesity continue to devastate communities such as
Newark, for example. By encouraging talented high school students to
study science and technology and by providing them an opportunity to
explore the complex and challenging world of pharmaceutical research and
development, we move a step closer to our goal of prevailing in the
fight against serious disease.”
"Each scientist here today was once inspired by a teacher or other adult
to pursue a science career. We're proud to support programs like RxeSEARCH
through the participation of Schering-Plough colleagues who share their
passion and commitment to the important work of drug discovery and
development," remarked Joseph Starkey, Executive Director, Public
Affairs, Schering-Plough.
The RxeSEARCH program is a public-private partnership led by
PhRMA and created by Bristol-Myers Squibb. Eleven participating school
districts, including Newark Public Schools, are in New Jersey, New York,
Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Iowa. Other educational partners include
the National Science Resources Center and NJ Department of Education.
Pharmaceutical industry partners include Bristol-Myers Squibb,
GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson, Novartis, Schering-Plough, Wyeth and
the HealthCare Institute of New Jersey.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/multimedia/home/20130124006155/en/
Newark Public SchoolsMichelle Baldwin, 973-733-7311mbaldwin@nps.k12.nj.usorRxeSEARCHBecky Taylor, 908-310-7452rebeccataylor3@verizon.netorBristol-Myers SquibbFred Egenolf, 609-252-4875frederick.egenolf@bms.comorNovartis Pharmaceuticals CorporationGina Moran, 862-778-5567 or 973-476-3643gina.moran@novartis.comorSchering-Plough CorporationFred Malley, 908-298-7428fred.malley@spcorp.com