Lockheed Martin Hosts Bay Area Teachers to Inspire Future Generations of Scientists and Engineers
Lockheed Martin will host 20 teachers ranging from elementary schools to community colleges this summer as part of the company’s long-standing support of the Bay Area-based Industry Initiatives for Science and Math Education (IISME). The IISME organization works to foster a strong, highly skilled workforce in mathematics, science and technology.
IISME’s primary initiative, the Summer Fellowship Program, places qualified teachers into local companies and research labs for an eight-week learning experience where teachers, paired with industry mentors, augment their science and math skills by solving real-world problems. Upon returning to the classroom, application of the industry experience helps teachers stimulate students’ interest in math and science and, in turn, helps students to become lifelong learners.
“Lockheed Martin has participated in the IISME Summer Fellowship Program every summer since playing a leadership role in founding the organization,” said Kevin Bilger, Lockheed Martin vice president and general manager, and member of the IISME Senior Advisory Council.
“IISME has strengthened the bridge between industry and education to improve the quality of science, math and technology instruction in our local schools. We look forward to once again providing teachers with a hands-on working environment to inspire our next-generation of scientists and engineers.”
Lockheed Martin IISME Fellows will work side-by-side with engineers in space-based and missile programs under development at the company’s Sunnyvale and Palo Alto facilities including satellite telecommunications, as well as missiles, defense systems and other advanced technologies. Lockheed Martin has sponsored a total of 334 teacher fellowships over 27 years.
“IISME and the teachers we serve are so fortunate to have such a strong, committed partner in Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company. Teachers consistently rave about how much they learn from the talented and dedicated Lockheed Martin employees with whom they work and their challenging summer assignments,” said Jennifer Bruckner, IISME executive director.
“The IISME fellowships that Lockheed Martin has provided over the years have positively impacted over 250,000 students already – students who are now aware of the many exciting career opportunities in the aerospace field.”
IISME was founded in 1985 by a consortium of San Francisco Bay Area companies including Lockheed Martin, in partnership with the Lawrence Hall of Science at the University of California at Berkeley. IISME seeks to transform teaching and learning through industry-education partnerships.
Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 126,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation reported 2010 sales of $45.8 billion.