Terri Sindelar
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.                     August 6, 1990
(Phone:  202/453-8400)

Dom Amatore
Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala.
(Phone:  205/544-0034)


RELEASE:  90-110

NASA, C&P AND STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA SUPPORT PROJECT LASER



     In an effort to boost interest in science and math in the 
state of West Virginia, NASA today received a $125,000 donation 
from C&P Telephone Company of West Virginia, Bell Atlantic 
Charitable Foundation, Charleston, W.V., and the West Virginia 
Department of Education to help fund the development and 
operation of NASA's Project LASER. 


     One component of a larger LASER (Learning About Science, 
Engineering and Research) education program is a tractor-trailer 
mounted mobile teacher resource center which provides elementary 
and secondary school lesson materials to teachers who do not have 
access to the stationary teacher resource centers at NASA's field 
centers.  


     The pilot program has been developed by NASA's Marshall 
Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala., with corporate 
sponsorship.  The 48-foot van will travel throughout West 
Virginia for 1 month per year, for 3 years, visiting two schools 
per day.


     The grant was presented today to Jack Lee, Director of 
NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, by David E. Berry, President 
of C&P, and Dr. Henry Marookie, West Virginia State 
Superintendent of Schools.


     Lee expressed appreciation to Berry and Marookie for their 
support and confidence in Project LASER and stressed the 
seriousness of the national problem the program is seeking to 
address.

                           - more  -
                            - 2  -



     "Fewer American students today are pursuing careers in 
science and engineering because they develop the false impression 
as early as third or fourth grade that math and science are dull 
or too hard," Lee said.  "This condition threatens over the next 
decade to create a national shortage of the new scientists and 
engineers we'll need to replace those who will retire.  However, 
with the creative efforts of a number of federal agencies and the 
partnerships of concerned groups like C&P and the West Virginia 
Department of Education, we hope to turn the tide on this 
problem."


     NASA has designed the interior of the trailer with six 
teacher work stations, each serving two teachers concurrently.  
Each work station is equipped with a computer providing access to 
"NASA Spacelink," an electronic information system with a broad 
range of information and educational materials for teachers of 
grades K-12, particularly in the areas of mathematics and 
science.  Each work station is also equipped with a videotape 
recorder and a monitoring system so teachers can copy from a 
large library of NASA educational videotapes.


     Project LASER will prove beneficial to both teachers and 
students according to Marookie.  "Putting the NASA resources and 
the NASA technologies at West Virginia's front door is a real and 
continuing service to the teachers and students of West 
Virginia."


     According to Berry, industry will benefit from the project 
as well as education.  "An increased interest in science and math 
programs will generate a larger pool of students embarking on 
technical careers after graduation."


     "I am pleased that the state of West Virginia is working 
with C&P Telephone and Bell Atlantic to develop an opportunity to 
show our educators that we believe in them and in their ability 
to affect the future of West Virginia," Governor Gaston Caperton 
said.  "This partnership is an effective coming together, not 
just a spending program."


     Corporate support of project LASER is being coordinated by 
the Society of Automotive Engineers, Warrendale, Penn.  Navistar 
International Transportation Corp., Chicago, Ill., provided the 
22-ton International tractor.  Transcontinental Marketing 
Exhibits, Inc., Lake Bluff, Ill., provided the 48-foot van-style 
trailer.  


                           - end  -





TO:  MDS/PRA Group
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DATE & TIME:  AUGUST 7, 1990

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