<p>While confessing he's no science or math whiz himself, Gov. Charlie Crist, a lawyer, has endorsed an effort to transform science and math education in Florida public schools and push it to the cutting edge.</p>
<p>"I'm confident this offensive will increase students learning in math and science," Crist said on Wednesday.</p>
<p>The initiative will be led by Sir Harold Kroto, a co-recipient of the 1996 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, who's on the Florida State University faculty and a tireless advocate of energizing the teaching of science from kindergarten through high school.</p>
<p>"At this time when not enough young people are opting for mathematics and the sciences, new approaches to education are vital," said Kroto in a statement.
~~~~
Funded with $2 million from the Legislature, the new FSU-based Florida Center for Research in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics will to investigate the best ways to teach math and science and to develop great math and science teachers.
~~~~
Excerpts from the Tallahassee Democrat: <a href="http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070221/BREAKINGNEWS/70220033%5B/url%5D">http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070221/BREAKINGNEWS/70220033</a></p>