We describe the adaptation of an existing afterschool STEM program in order to make it more relevant and effective for rural teens. The award-winning Teen Science Café (TSC) program was modified to redirect focus away from traditional, academic STEM careers toward STEM in First Response, a field whose members are common and visible in rural areas.…

In 2002, public safety professionals in California developed a unique, groundbreaking curriculum targeting an audience of in-service, pre-supervisory, professionals from all three major public safety disciplines--corrections, law enforcement, and fire. This article features the California Public Safety Leadership & Ethics Program (CPSLEP), a…

When a fire breaks out in the twin cities of Lewiston and Auburn, Maine, the firefighter response time is just a bit quicker these days, thanks to student research at Bates College. When the alarm sounds, firefighters click on a computer map that tells them the size of the burning structure, the quickest route to the fire, the closest hydrant and…

A hands-on approach to science is highly desirable because an inquiry approach to science greatly promotes learning. However when students and teachers manipulate glassware, chemical, and other materials, accidents will happen. Because of this, risk management and safety procedures become an important, integral part of the science curriculum. This…