FIGURE 2-1 Why PhDs trained in the proposed program can serve as ideal connectors between science-rich institutions and schools.

Every institution has its own culture, which makes it relatively easy for individuals inside of the same institution to interact. But, it creates serious difficulties for making meaningful connections between two institutions whose cultures are as different as a university science department and a school district. After their training, the PhDs discussed in this report (placed schematically between the dotted lines), share values that allow them to form strong personal bridges between two such institutions. Ideally, some would be employed in school districts and others in science-rich institutions, allowing them to catalyze a broad exchange of information and resources.