PARTNERSHIPS

University of Southern California, Center For Craniofacial Molecular Biology (CCMB).  The Center is a world class molecular biology research facility, with state-of-the art facilities and fifteen molecular biology faculty members, all of whom work with CSP.  These scientists are available for mentoring, science content, research content and as support for LA-SI.  In addition, CCMB faculty have expertise in PBL through the nationally recognized dental education pilot currently in progress at the Center.  The Center also serves as a venue for various CSP Cohort activities and meetings.

Los Angeles Systemic Initiative (LA-SI), and the Venice/Westchester Cluster of the Los Angeles Unified School District.  The LA-SI is a tremendous resource and an outstanding contributor to the work of our site.  CSP teacher-leaders are supported by the LA-SI in a number of ways; through funding for conference attendance, instructional materials and professional expert pay for workshop presentations at LA-SI Mathematics, Science and Technology Centers.  LA-SI resource teachers and the science advisor attended the strategic planning session for the Orchid and Octopus Projects, and LA-SI funded or partially funded numerous activities at our site.  The CSP Project co-director, Chris Mihm, recently became an LA-SI Resource Teacher and is housed at the Westside MST Center where he is deeply involved in the schools in the Venice/Westchester Cluster.  The Cluster administration, spearheaded by Carol Dodd has continued to encourage and support their teachers through workshops, instructional support and additional staff planning time at schools.


 California Science Center (CSC) Previously the California Museum of Science and Industry.  The CSC has provided a venue for a variety of USC CSP activities such as teacher workshops and tie-in’s between our projects and their exhibits.  In addition, this informal science site is available to provide cohort members with a place to develop and present workshops.  They will open their new facility in 1998, and their facilities will include a teacher resource center, and a multitude of ways in which to collaborate with our project.

Pasadena's Huntington Botanical Gardens played a role in the Summer Institute, and their master gardeners, staff and curators are a local resource for botanical expertise.  Connections have been made with the Gardening Angels to provide expertise at school sites.  Other resources exist in the Greater Los Angeles area that would contribute to the success of the project and provide a continuing supportive role for teachers.  The National Gardening Society was involved in the Orchid Institute and expressed an interest in an even deeper collaboration, that avenue is being pursued.  In addition, cluster schools have begun to form their own partnerships with the community, one example:  The Pacific Division of the Los Angeles Police Department is making plans to involve four Venice/Westchester schools in the landscaping of their station based on scientific principles.

 The Natural History Museum, Exposition Park, Los Angeles.
The NHM of Los Angeles County is located in a low-income, ethnically diverse neighborhood near USC.  It is the largest natural and cultural history museum in the Western United tatesand welcomes 1.2 million visitors annually. These visitors reflect multicultural demographics of the greater Los Angeles area (40% Caucasian, 38% Latino, 9% African American, 8% Pacific Islander, and 5% from other ethnic groups). The museum hosts over 300,000 children annually from LAUSD and neighboring districts who represent over 90 different ethnic groups.  Some of the resources at the NHM include, Seaver History Library, and marine specimen collections.  An important part of this collaboration is access to the expertise of marine science curators at the museum in conjunction with USC’s Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies and the Sea Mobile.  NHM curators have been working in collaboration with the Aquarium of the Pacific as AOP has realized their vision as the definitive resource for marine science in Southern California.

 Aquarium of the Pacific (AOP)
As a primary support facility and complement to the resources of the NHM for a marine science based cluster project, we approached Bill Street, Manager School Programs, of the Aquarium of the Pacific (AOP).  The new
AOP is located in Long Beach but is less than 10 minutes away from Los Angeles schools.  This brand new learning facility's goal is " to instill a sense of wonder, respect and stewardship for the Pacific Ocean and its inhabitants by providing exciting opportunities to learn."  Designed by the same construction team as the Monterey Bay aquarium, the facility will introduce over 12,000 marine specimens to its 156,735 square feet.  The new building opened June 20, 1998, and includes a 200-seat auditorium and two education classrooms.  A goal of the AOP is to support teacher and student educational programs.  AOP is a state-of-the-art facility that will provide Octopus Project teachers with access to research boats, instructional materials focused around the ocean, marine biologists, and marine life in many forms.  Teachers will have access to loan kits, electronic resources, teacher workshops, bio artifacts, web site access, 2-way distance learning and aquarium experts through the Aquarium Resource Center (ARC) at AOP.  The richness of the resources available at this facility will provide teachers with in-depth experience to enhance the resources of the NHM and USC.  In addition, a component of the Octopus Project to engage students, will be the Aquarium’s challenge to the Cluster to design an exhibit for the AOP.  An abundance of learning will take place when students and teachers are challenged to, as an example, “create an exhibit on the microscopic world of the sea”.