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	-Kathy Wright, Marlboro Co. Teacher

ScienceSouth Mobile Lab makes debut at Science and Technologies Center conference

Wednesday, November 01, 2006

FLORENCE, SC -- The Senator Hugh K. Leatherman mobile lab traveled to the Association of Science and Technology (ASTC) conference to deliver a session on Mobile Laboratories. The ScienceSouth Outreach team facilitated a discussion with 40 national and international science center leaders. ScienceSouth's session entitled "Four Wheels instead of Four Walls" attracted participants from Pittsburgh, Denver, Toronto, New Zealand, and Australia.

The conference session was a "case study" and ScienceSouth Board members Sandra Durant and Dr. John Kirby explained how community partners including McLeod Health and the school districts were key to the development and implementation of the ScienceSouth mobile labs.

Project Director Colleen Zilio said: "The mobile lab concept uses a large vehicle to provide a ready to go educational laboratory that travels directly to schools and communities. This approach enables delivery of a consistent product and makes efficient use of resources. We wanted ScienceSouth to be recognized as a leader in this field because of our ability to maximize the impact to the students and teachers".

"We took the opportunity to bring our mobile lab to the conference in Louisville KY. It is the first time that this approach has been discussed at the ASTC conference". said ScienceSouth's Technical Manager Perry Gauthier. The concept for mobile labs originated at Boston University. Dr. Don DeRosa Director of Education with the Boston University School of Medicine has formed a national Mobile Lab Coalition. "We are really pleased to have ScienceSouth join our coalition. ScienceSouth has developed an approach which is very cost effective and introduces a new model for mobile lab design," said DeRosa.

The 2006 ASTC Annual Conference explored how informal education organizations like science centers and museums use strategies to engage their communities.

For further information:

ScienceSouth
Association of Science - Technology Centers (ASTC)
University School of Medicine CityLab

CONTACT:
Colleen Zilio
ScienceSouth
(843) 629-4040
FAX (843) 629-4341
zilio@sciencesouth.org
www.sciencesouth.org