The New Jersey Science Convention

The New Jersey Science Convention (NJSC) is co-sponsored by the New Jersey Science Teachers Association and the New Jersey Science Education Leadership Association. It is the second largest annual convention for teachers in the State of New Jersey. The Convention is planned and carried out by the volunteer work of science teachers, supervisors, and administrators and attracts over 2,600 professional educators, 140 exhibitors and 300 workshops or seminars. Additionally, a number of affiliated organizations have supported the work of the convention.  Several of the initial supporters were the American Chemical Society, the North Jersey Section Teachers Affiliate, and American Association of Physics Teachers.  In subsequent years,  the Biology Teachers Association of New Jersey and the New Jersey Earth Science Teachers also developed programs and supported the convention.  From the 1990's onward, support was enlisted from The Council of Elementary Science- New Jersey (CES-NJ) and The New Jersey Space Grant Consortium. This year, the 2005 convention was held from October 5 th – 6 th , 2005 at the Garden State Exhibit Center and the Doubletree Hotel in Somerset , NJ. The New Jersey Space Grant Consortium advertised its programs and supported the keynote speaker at the conference.

For the past quarter century, world-renowned banquet speakers have been an important highlight of the NJSC.  Some additional convention highlights include the annual standing room only, hands-on workshops, the overflowing Demo Dens, and the Frontiers in Science series presented by research scientists from major NJ industries. In addition, sessions given by NASA scientists, and programs presented by the NJ Commissioners of Education and by the presidents of NSTA and NSELA (NSSA).  The convention has been visited by the governor of New Jersey and has been featured on CNN.  More than ten years ago, a full day pre-convention session was introduced into the program.  It has been very well received by NJ science educators, and each year the attendance increases.  The NJSC exhibit area has been a special highlight year after year.  The displays are attractive, interesting, and provide the opportunity for educators to examine the latest publications and to inspect the newest science equipment.  These are only a few of the many outstanding happenings that have been responsible for the growth and success of NJSC.

The NJSC continues to grow and evolve as it keeps meeting the needs of Science Education in the 21st century.  In 2000, the NJ Department of Education mandated that, consistent with the NJ Professional Standards, teachers and educational service personnel complete 100 hours of continuing education every five years.  Since the year 2000, the NJSC has been a state registered provider for the 100 hours of professional development.  Nearly all of the programs and activities of the NJSC qualify as credits towards the 100 hours obligation.

This year, 2005, America 's first woman in space, an author of three books, and a leader of President Reagan's Commission investigating the space shuttle Challenger accident, there is no one more qualified to discuss the past and future of space exploration than Sally Ride. In this fascinating presentation, Dr. Ride utilized breathtaking slides and videos that she took on her two trips in space to describe the benefits of space exploration and of the future of the space program.

Sally Ride, former NASA Astronaut, and America 's first woman in space, was born on May 26, 1951 in Los Angeles , California . She graduated from Stanford University in 1973 with a Bachelor of Science in Physics and a Bachelor of Arts in English. She also received her Master of Science and Doctorate degrees in Physics from Stanford in 1975 and 1978.

Dr. Ride was selected for astronaut training in 1978, and reported to NASA in July of that year. As part of her training, she was a member of the support crew for both the second and third space shuttle flights, and worked in mission control as a capsule communicator (CAPCOM) for those two missions.

Dr. Ride flew in space twice. Her first flight was aboard the space shuttle Challenger in 1983. The flight, Mission STS-7, was launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on June 18. During the mission, the five-member crew deployed communications satellites performed the first satellite deployment and retrieval with the shuttle's robot arm, and conducted materials and pharmaceutical research. The flight was in orbit for 6 days (147 hours), returning to Earth on June 24, 1983.

Dr. Ride's second spaceflight was also aboard Challenger, on STS-41G (the thirteenth space shuttle flight), in October 1984. During their 8-day mission, the crew deployed the Earth Radiation Budget satellite, conducted scientific observations of the Earth, and demonstrated the potential for satellite refueling by astronauts.

In June 1985, Dr. Ride was assigned to a third space shuttle flight. Training for that flight was interrupted in January 1986 by the space shuttle Challenger accident. For the next six months, she served as a member of the Presidential Commission investigating the accident. Upon completion of the investigation, Dr. Ride was assigned to NASA headquarters in Washington , D.C. to lead NASA's planning. In this role, she created NASA's Office of Exploration and produced a report on the future of the space program entitled Leadership and America 's Future in Space. She later also served on the Columbia Accident Investigation Board, and is the only person to serve on both space shuttle accident investigations.

Dr. Ride has written five books, To Space and Back, Voyager: An Adventure to the Edge of The Solar System, The Third Planet: Exploring The Earth From Space, The Mystery of Mars and her latest book, Exploring Our Solar System.

Dr. Ride is currently a professor of physics at the University of California , San Diego and CEO of Imaginary Lines, Inc. Imaginary Lines, also known as Sally Ride Science develops programs and publishes materials aimed at encouraging more young girls of middle school age to pursue math and science. Dr. Ride has been inducted into the National Woman's Hall of Fame and the Astronaut Hall of Fame, and is a former member of the President's Committee of Advisors on Science and Technology. She has received numerous awards including the Jefferson Award for Public Service, the von Braun Award, and the Lindbergh Eagle. She has twice been awarded the National Spaceflight Medal.