2016 -- S 2169

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LC004176

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

SUPPORTING AND ENCOURAGING STEM/STEAM DEGREES AND PROGRAMS IN

RHODE ISLAND ELEMENTARY, SECONDARY, AND INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER

EDUCATION

     Introduced By: Senators Gallo, Satchell, Pearson, DiPalma, and Picard

     Date Introduced: January 27, 2016

     Referred To: Senate Education

     WHEREAS, Job opportunities and careers in the fields of Science, Technology,

Engineering, and Math (STEM) are projected to grow; and

     WHEREAS, The Rhode Island School of Design led the initiative that incorporated Art

and Design into the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, thus changing STEM

to STEAM. The goal is to combine for example, the mind of a scientist with that of an artist.

Green architecture is one area that combines science and technology with a design and artistic

element that creates environmentally friendly buildings; and

     WHEREAS, Many, but not all, public high schools and career and technical education

(CTE) schools in Rhode Island offer programs in agricultural, environmental or technical studies

to prepare students for green sector careers; and

     WHEREAS, The award-winning JASON Project, founded by Dr. Robert Ballard,

Professor of Oceanography at the University of Rhode Island, is an educational program that

reaches over 1 million students and 25,000 teachers annually. The program makes available

curriculum in Climate, Weather, and Ecology for schools, after-school programs, and summer

camps. In a program called, "The Climate: Seas of Change", students investigate and analyze the

causes and impacts of climate change; and

     WHEREAS, The Community College of Rhode Island, Rhode Island College, and the

University of Rhode Island offer opportunities to pursue degrees in some green STEAM areas of

study; and

     WHEREAS, Climate change adaptation can incentivize new and expanded economic

activity and create jobs in the green sector. Areas of higher education study around coastal zone

protection may fill a need for those skilled in planning, mapping, constructing coastal defenses,

reinforcing infrastructure, and green architecture and design; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby respectfully requests the Board of Education to submit a plan to the General Assembly by

January 1, 2017, to incentivize the creation and expansion of STEM/STEAM in all Rhode Island

elementary and secondary schools, including a guided pathway into certificate and degree

programs at our public institutions of higher education to prepare students for jobs in the green

economy; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That this Senate respectfully requests CCRI, RIC and URI to submit a

report to the General Assembly by January 1, 2017, that identifies current partners and potential

future collaboration with green sector businesses that identify areas of job demand and job growth

with a corresponding schedule to develop certificate and degree programs; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That this Senate respectfully requests the Board of Education to encourage

our public higher education institutions to further develop degree programs leading to green

sector employment in the areas of climate change risk evaluation, sustainability, resiliency and

adaptation; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Chairperson of the Board of Education, the

President of the Community College of Rhode Island, the President of Rhode Island College, the

President of the University of Rhode Island, the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary

Education, and the Commissioner of Postsecondary Education.

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