About Us

Press Room

Contact: Cindy Carway/Stephanie Tonnesen
212-378-2020
or
David Perry
415-864-6397

Astronaut Mae Jemison Lands in Bay Area to Help Students Tackle California's Energy Crisis and Other Problems

American Hero Inspires Young and Old With Her New Autobiography

National Tour To Culminate in September 26, 2001 New York Stock Exchange Listing

OAKLAND, CA., August 2, 2001 -- Bay Area middle and high school students learned today they have the power to change their world when Dr. Mae C. Jemison, the nation's first African-American female astronaut and national science literacy advocate for Bayer Corporation's Making Science Make Sense (MSMS) program, worked with them at Chabot Space & Science Center (Chabot) to solve some of the most pressing problems facing Californians. 

The event is part of a national cross-country Making Science Make Sense tour that will culminate on Wall Street on September 26, 2001 when Bayer lists its shares on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). 

Jemison, who is also a physician, scientist and Dartmouth College professor, participated in a day of Making Science Make Sense activities. Making Science Make Sense is Bayer's companywide initiative that advances science literacy through hands-on, inquiry-based science learning, employee volunteerism and public education. The program, in addition to the NYSE listing, demonstrates the company's commitment to its employees and to the communities where Bayer operates. 

The event also marks Chabot's first anniversary and launch of its second year programs. During the morning, Jemison led the students through a three-hour exercise as they used the scientific processes of observation, inquiry, research, experimenting and hypothesizing to address society's problems. Working in teams, the students tackled California's energy crisis and improving the Bay Area's water supply. They also designed strategies to encourage more girls and minority students to consider pursuing careers in science and math, and assessed if and how space exploration is helping Californians today. 

Later in the day, Jemison continued to inspire young and old alike as she read excerpts from her new autobiography, Find Where The Wind Goes…Moments From My Life, a series of essays that chronicle her determination to become the scientist and role model she is today. 

"As science-based organizations, both Bayer and our Making Science Make Sense partner, Chabot, are committed to educating the public about the importance of science literacy and the roles science and technology play in their everyday lives," said Dick Thomas, Vice President and Site Manager of Bayer Corporation's Worldwide Center for Biotechnology in Berkeley. "Today, when people invest in Bayer, they're actually investing in quality science education, helping today's students become science literate."

Bayer's Making Science Make Sense program in Northern California sponsors a variety of hands-on science education initiatives for elementary, middle, high school and community college students. Through MSMS, Bayer provides science education programs, volunteers and financial resources to Rosa Parks Elementary School, Berkeley Public Schools, Laney College and its other partner schools in Oakland, Vallejo and Sacramento. At the high school level, Bayer spearheaded in 1992 the creation of a unique hands-on biotechnology school-to-work program for high school and community college students, which has since become a national model. The MSMS program also includes partnerships with area science centers, such as the Lawrence Hall of Science, San Francisco Exploratorium, Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose and Chabot to bring hands-on science to thousands of students and their families.

"We can't think of a more fitting way to celebrate Chabot's first anniversary than with a visit by such an esteemed American hero and space explorer. We're grateful to Bayer for giving us such a wonderful gift," said Dr. Mike Reynolds, executive director and CEO of Chabot. "Giving students the opportunity to interact with Dr. Jemison in such a purposeful way helps them understand just how intricately woven science is into the fabric of society."

Hands-on Science = Science Literacy

"I've always been interested in science," Jemison told the crowd as she read from her new book. "From the time I was a young child making mud pies in the backyard and looking up at the stars, dreaming of going to space." 

According to Jemison, all children are interested in science, but many lose interest in the subject in school when they're asked to memorize facts from textbooks. Jemison, Bayer and its partners, such as Chabot, advocate reform of elementary school science education from a textbook-based approach to one that is experiential, inquiry-based and hands-on.

"It's up to all of us to make sure students learn science the way scientists do -- by doing it -- so they develop the critical-thinking, problem-solving and other science literacy skills they will need in the technologically advanced world ahead," Jemison explained.

She recounted the time when at age five she announced to her kindergarten teacher that she wanted to be a scientist. In 1961 America, the fight for civil rights was underway, but the women's movement was still just a dream. Understandably, her teacher thought she was confused. "Don't you mean a nurse?" 

"No," she said. She was not confused. In 1992, Jemison blasted off aboard the space shuttle Endeavour and the rest is history. 

Bayer Corporation's Berkeley, California site is the worldwide manufacturing center of excellence for the Biological Products Business Unit's recombinant protein technologies. Kogenate® for the treatment of hemophilia A; Prolastin® for the treatment of alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency (or Alpha 1); and Thrombate III® for the treatment of hereditary antithrombin III deficiency are produced at the facility. It is also the worldwide Biotechnology Center, responsible for the discovery, development, and process development of recombinant protein drugs and gene-based therapies.

Bayer operates Making Science Make Sense programs in 21 sites across the country. Best known for its flagship product, Bayer Aspirin, Bayer Corporation produces a broad range of health care, life sciences and chemical products that help diagnose and treat diseases, purify water, preserve local landmarks, protect crops, advance automobile safety and durability and improve people's lives.

Headquartered in Pittsburgh, Bayer Corporation had sales of $10.1 billion in 2000 and is one of Fortune magazine's Most Admired Companies. The company employs 23,200 people. It is a member of the worldwide Bayer Group, a $29 billion international health care and chemicals group based in Leverkusen, Germany. Bayer (BAYG.DE) stock is a component of the DAX, and is listed on multiple foreign exchanges. On September 26, Bayer plans to list its stock on the New York Stock Exchange.

Chabot Space & Science Center is the continuation and expansion of the public Chabot Observatory that has served Bay Area schools and citizens with astronomy and science education programs for 117 years. The new Chabot Space & Science Center, which opened in August 2000, is an innovative teaching and learning center focusing on astronomy and the interrelationship of all the sciences. Its telescope and observatory complex, domed-screen Tien MegaDome Theater, Ask Jeeves Planetarium, exhibits and natural park setting are a place where students, teachers and the public can imagine, understand and learn to shape their future through science.

- # # # -

Making Science Make Sense/New York Stock Exchange Listing Tour
Media Message Points – Short Version
Berkeley, CA.
Thursday, August 2, 2001

Bayer's Corporate Commitment

• Bayer Corporation's award-winning Making Science Make Sense (MSMS) program is a companywide intitiative that advances science literacy through inquiry-based, hands-on learning, employee volunteerism and public education.
• At its Berkeley site -- the worldwide Biotechnology Center and worldwide manufacturing center of excellence for the Biological Products Business Unit -- Bayer operates one of 21 MSMS programs around the country.

The Story

• On Thursday, August 2,San Francisco Bay Area middle and high school students learned they have the power to change their world when Dr. Mae C. Jemison, the nation's first African-American female astronaut and national science literacy advocate for Bayer Corporation's Making Science Make Sense (MSMS) program, worked with them at Chabot Space & Science Center (Chabot) to solve some of the most pressing problems facing Californians. 
• With this event, Bayer Corporation launches a national cross-country Making Science Make Sense tour that will culminate on Wall Street on September 26, 2001 when Bayer lists its shares on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). 
• The tour will stop in seven cities, including Berkeley, Elkhart, Indiana; Baytown, Texas; Kansas City, MO; Charleston, S.C.; and Morristown, New Jersey.
• Now, when people invest in Bayer, they're actually investing in quality science education and helping students across the country become science literate, ready to face the challenges of the technologically advanced world ahead. 
• Both Making Science Make Sense and the NYSE listing demonstrate Bayer's commitment to its employees and tthe communities where it operates. 
• The day-long Making Science Make Sense event also marked Chabot's first anniversary as a space and center and launch of its second year programs. 
• During the morning portion of the event, Jemison worked with the students and later in the day, she read excerpts from her new autobiography, Find Where The Wind Goes…Moments From My Life, a series of essays that chronicle her determination to become the scientist and role model she is today. 
• Jemison led the students through a three-hour exercise as they used the scientific processes of observation, inquiry, research, experimenting and hypothesizing to address society's problems. 
• Working in teams, the students tackled California's energy crisis and improving the Bay Area's water supply. 
• They also designed strategies to encourage more girls and minority students to consider pursuing careers in science and math, and assessed if and how space exploration is helping Californians today. 
• This kind of purposeful exercise helps students understand just how intricately woven science is into the fabric of society.
• And that is precisely one of Bayer's missions with Making Science Make Sense. 
• As science-based organizations, both Bayer and its Making Science Make Sense partner, Chabot, are committed to educating the public about the importance of science literacy and the roles science and technology play in their everyday lives.

Making Science Make Sense in the Bay Area

• Bayer's Making Science Make Sense program in Northern California sponsors a variety of hands-on science education initiatives for elementary, middle, high school and community college students. 
• Through MSMS, Bayer provides science education programs, volunteers and financial resources to Rosa Parks Elementary School, Berkeley Public Schools, Laney College and its other partner schools in Oakland, Vallejo and Sacramento. 
• At the high school level, Bayer spearheaded in 1992 the creation of a unique hands-on biotechnology school-to-work program for high school and community college students, which has since become a national model. 
• The MSMS program also includes partnerships with area science centers, such as the Lawrence Hall of Science, San Francisco Exploratorium, Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose and Chabot to bring hands-on science to thousands of students and their families.

Hands-on Science = Science Literacy

• Why is hands-on, inquiry-based learning so important? Because, say experts, it helps students hone critical thinking, problem-solving and team-working skills and become science literate. 
• Science literacy is not just for nuclear physicists or biologists, it's for everyone. It means being able to read a newspaper article about a science-related subject and understand it, or prepare nutritionally sound meals for your children.
• In order to ensure science literacy in all of our students, parents, teachers, and community and business leaders need to work together to change the way science is taught in America's classrooms.
• Americans agree. A recent Gallup survey commissioned by Bayer and the National Science Foundation found Americans believe that science literacy increasingly is becoming a key ingredient for success in the workplace and that inquiry-based, hands-on learning helps students become science literate.

Corporate Boilerplates

• Bayer Corporation's Berkeley, California site is the worldwide manufacturing center of excellence for the Biological Products Business Unit's recombinant protein technologies. Kogenate® for the treatment of hemophilia A; Prolastin® for the treatment of alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency (or Alpha 1); and Thrombate III® for the treatment of hereditary antithrombin III deficiency are produced at the facility. It is also the worldwide Biotechnology Center, responsible for the discovery, development, and process development of recombinant protein drugs and gene-based therapies.
• Bayer operates Making Science Make Sense programs in 21 sites across the country. Best known for its flagship product, Bayer Aspirin, Bayer Corporation produces a broad range of health care, life sciences and chemical products that help diagnose and treat diseases, purify water, preserve local landmarks, protect crops, advance automobile safety and durability and improve people's lives.
• Headquartered in Pittsburgh, Bayer Corporation had sales of $10.1 billion in 2000 and is one of Fortune magazine's Most Admired Companies. The company employs 23,200 people. It is a member of the worldwide Bayer Group, a $29 billion international health care and chemicals group based in Leverkusen, Germany. Bayer (BAYG.DE) stock is a component of the DAX, and is listed on multiple foreign exchanges. On September 26, Bayer plans to list its stock on the New York Stock Exchange.
• Chabot Space & Science Center is the continuation and expansion of the public Chabot Observatory that has served Bay Area schools and citizens with astronomy and science education programs for 117 years. The new Chabot Space & Science Center, which opened in August 2000, is an innovative teaching and learning center focusing on astronomy and the interrelationship of all the sciences. Its telescope and observatory complex, domed-screen Tien MegaDome Theater, Ask Jeeves Planetarium, exhibits and natural park setting are a place where students, teachers and the public can imagine, understand and learn to shape their future through science.

- # # # -