Press Releases

Edwards Continues “2014 HBCU STEM Tour” with Visit to Bowie State University

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 7, 2014


Washington, DC – Congresswoman Donna F. Edwards (MD-4) continued her “2014 HBCU STEM Tour” yesterday with a visit to Bowie State University in Bowie, Maryland. During Congresswoman Edwards’ visit, she met with President Dr. Mickey L. Burnim, students, and faculty. She also toured the Education Innovation Initiative, the Virtual Reality Program, and the Mobile Apps Research program in the Computer Science Building along with the Protein Crystallography and Bioinformatics Program, the Genomics and Biotechnology Program, and the Medicinal Chemistry Program in the George Crawford Science Building.

As a senior member of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee, Congresswoman Edwards is visiting Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) to tour their facilities and gain additional insight on how best to engage women and minorities in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields.

Congresswoman Edwards:

“We must promote the engagement of women and minorities in STEM fields so that they may compete and succeed in our 21st Century, global economy. I was encouraged by the strong work of President Burnim and Bowie State University, especially the university’s engagement of young people and their cutting edge anti-malarial and small molecules research.  With the introduction this week of the America Competes Act of 2014, I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Science, Space, and Technology Committee to advance legislation that invests in STEM education, promotes preparing our young people for careers in the sciences, and strengthens America’s prosperity through technological innovation.”

Bowie State University President, Dr. Mickey L. Burnim:

“I was pleased to welcome Congresswoman Edwards to Bowie State University and to share our new signature program, the Education Innovation Initiative (EI2), aimed at increasing hands-on experiences for our students to tackle real-world problems with corporate and government partners in the STEM disciplines and also opening a pipeline, beginning in kindergarten, to get more young minorities excited about careers in the sciences.  Bowie State is committed to producing many more highly qualified graduates needed to help maintain America’s national security and technological competitiveness in a changing world. I applaud Congresswoman Edwards for her continuing efforts to advance legislation to enhance STEM education.”

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