Omniplex Science Mentoring Program
The Kirkpatrick Science and Air Space Museum (also known as the Omniplex), has received a one-year planning grant of $25,000 from the Lucent Technologies Foundation to support development of a facility/program, the Science Mentoring Center (SMC), which will link students, ages 11-18, who possess a demonstrated interest in science and math with distant mentors and other students across Oklahoma.

As envisioned, the distant mentors would be professionals involved in science-based occupations at research institutions, corporations, vocational-technical schools and colleges and universities throughout the state.

A corollary component of the program would be the development of Omniplex's telecommunications and teleconferencing links with public schools, vocational-technical schools as well as colleges and universities statewide. This connectivity will be established through OneNet.

OneNet is a member of the SMC Planning Committee and will assist in the development of a formal plan for this innovative mentoring facility/program at the Omniplex. The planning process will identify the specific needs of Oklahoma science teachers and their students for gaining access to scientists, researchers, engineers and similar professionals in a nurturing environment. Equally important, the planning process will address ways to eliminate budget and distance as barriers to the mentoring program.

To overcome these challenges, the SMC Planning Committee will explore options for creating a telecommunications link between the Omniplex and potential mentor institutions via OneNet. The programmatic emphasis will be on providing Oklahoma students with exposure to "real-life" applications of science as a way of encouraging them to pursue careers in science and technology.

	Comments or questions regarding OneNet: webmaster@onenet.net
	Copyright 2000-2001 by OneNet®