Backgrounder: Centre for excellence in science education established at UVic.

The Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Understanding Science (CETUS) will be housed within the faculty of education at UVic.
Through its Science Education Leadership Program, CETUS will identify an initial group of elementary and middle school teachers from Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands who are interested in becoming teacher-leaders for science education in their districts. Through a series of workshops over four years, they will examine existing practices in science education and develop new teaching strategies and materials.

CETUS will establish a Science Education Support Network to provide telephone and Internet-based support for teachers seeking help in understanding science concepts, developing teaching strategies, and finding research scientists who can serve as guest speakers and resources for school science education.

Through its Science Education Research Development program, CETUS will sponsor development and distribution of science education resources.

Through its New Initiatives in Science Education Program, the centre will provide seed funding for science educators developing projects that support the improvement of science education.