A National Need and Priority

50 years ago, in the shadow of the recently launched Sputnik satellite, fear that U.S. schools were falling behind the Soviet Union in math and science compelled President Eisenhower to institute the National Defense Education Act. This law greatly increased public and Federal support for science education.

When the Federal government made advancing science and technology education a national priority, every level of society was affected—even popular culture. Through education, concern was transformed into empowerment
and national interest in science skyrocketed.

Today, a new administration has called for the dramatic increase of resources to support science, education and innovation in the face of  global population growth, climate change and resource limitations. Society must once again commit to advancing science and technology.

The Center for Science is a collaborative organization focused on integrating and leveraging all available resources to actively engage more people in science and technology.