SSU's Partnership With NBTR Fosters Strengthening Student Math And Science Skills

Sonoma State University’s School of Science and Technology has announced a new partnership with the North Bay Technology Roundtable to foster industry collaboration and educational outreach to encourage students’ interest in math and science.

SST Dean Saeid Rahimi says the new collaboration offers a foundation for program expansion and continued vitality in Sonoma County’s tech sector.

NBTR AND SSU initiatives for this year include:

• The first annual Tech Awards to be held in March 2005. The event will honor the tech sector for its achievements as well as serve as a fundraiser for the NBTR/SSU endowment. The endowment will offer scholarships to outstanding local students pursuing degrees in math, science and engineering at SSU.
  
  
• Ongoing participation in coordinating and providing mentors for the annual Lego Robotics Challenge for elementary through junior college students.
  
  
• An Adopt-a-School program, through which companies partner with local middle and high schools to mentor students working on projects for the Sonoma County Science Fair.
  
  
• Quarterly social and lecture events, including CEO and HR forums.

"If we want this area to be a great place to locate a tech company, a partnership between industry and SSU can create an atmosphere in which the industry and SSU’s educational offerings can thrive," said Rahimi.

"If you look at other areas with strong technology sectors, most are centered around a local university. The university becomes a breeding ground for innovation, a nucleus of collaboration across the industry and a source of employees for thriving companies."

Founded in 1999, the NBTR has sought to foster collaboration among Sonoma County tech companies, and through that association has been instrumental in establishing a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering at SSU.

"We are offering programming this year that reflects the NBTR’s ongoing interest in turning kids on to math and science," stated Jerry Gladstone, NBTR chair.

"However, through our new collaboration with Sonoma State University, we expect to sponsor more events encouraging networking and cross-communication among industry employees and executives. The timing seems right for more expanded offerings as companies are beginning to recover and grow again."

For more information on the NBTR, visit www.nbtr.org or contact Lindsay Gore at lgore@sonoma-county.org.

To contact Dean Rahimi, call (707) 664-2129.

Media Contact: Jean Wasp, Media Relations Coordinator, (707) 664-2057