8th Grade Students from Irvington Middle School in Hands-on Science Program at Students 2 Science

EAST HANOVER, N.J., Dec. 2, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Approximately 40 eighth-grade students from the Union Avenue Middle School in Irvington, N.J., gained first-hand experience conducting scientific experiments with modern laboratory instruments today in the first of three planned visits to the Students 2 Science (S2S) Technology Center in East Hanover.

Through the S2S "A Day in the Life of a Scientist Program," the students worked in teams alongside professional scientists to perform four experiments designed to reinforce basic concepts in chemistry, math, and engineering.  Today's visit to the S2S laboratories was the first of three for these students during the 2010-2011 academic year, with the next two visits tentatively set for February and May of 2011.

The program for the Irvington students was made possible through a grant contributed by PDI, Inc., of Parsippany, N.J.

Among the dignitaries joining the students in support of the program were Dr. Lawrence S. Feinsod, Executive County Superintendent for the Essex County Office of Education; Irvington Mayor Wayne Smith; Dr. Ethel J. Hasty, Superintendent of the Irvington Public Schools; and Nancy Lurker, Chief Executive Officer of PDI.

"The mission of Students 2 Science is to inspire, motivate and educate middle school students to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, which we call STEM subjects," said Paul Winslow, Ph.D., President of Students 2 Science.  "We are delighted to offer this experience to all students, and we're particularly interested in promoting STEM to groups that are often underrepresented in these careers, including women and inner-city students."

Said PDI's Lurker, "As someone who came up through science and has worked in a lab, I am delighted to support this program and help offer students this great exposure to science and technology.  In today's highly competitive environment, it is increasingly important that students learn about and become comfortable with these career paths so that we can be assured of tomorrow's innovators and leaders."

PDI, with its interactive digital agency Group DCA, is a leading provider of integrated multichannel promotional outsource services to established and emerging health care companies. For more information, please visit the company's website at www.pdi-inc.com.

Students 2 Science, Inc. (S2S), is a N.J. non-profit corporation inspiring, motivating and educating students to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM).  Encouraging STEM subjects is especially important for minority, underrepresented, inner-city and women students who traditionally have considered these fields of study to be unattractive or out of reach.  S2S makes our program available to all students.  The S2S web site is http://www.students2science.org.

SOURCE Students 2 Science, Inc.