Regeneron Announces Initiative for STEM Education in Hudson Valley

TARRYTOWN, N.Y., April 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- In a new initiative to promote STEM (Science Technology Engineering Math) education in New York's Hudson Valley, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: REGN) today announced a collaboration with NASA, Teachers College, Columbia University and the STEM Education Leadership Center of Rye, New York to create the Hudson Valley STEM Teaching Fellowship, a cutting edge professional development experience that will train local teachers to integrate STEM into classroom instruction.

The new initiative was announced at a STEM Education Symposium held today at Regeneron's corporate headquarters in Tarrytown.

"Regeneron is all about using cutting-edge science to understand biology and develop new drugs," said George D. Yancopoulos, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of Regeneron and President of Regeneron Laboratories.  "We believe it is important to raise the level of science education in our communities to graduate students who are scientifically literate, as from this soil will spring the scientists of tomorrow.  We are pleased to provide fellowships and mentorships to enable this new teacher-training program, which builds on several other science education programs sponsored by Regeneron."

Lawrence Perretto, Executive Director of the STEM Education Leadership Center said, "Hudson Valley STEM Fellows will be engaged in three keys areas critical to transforming science education: graduate studies in STEM pedagogy through Columbia Teachers College, a professional science research experience at Regeneron, and informal classroom training in STEM teaching methods with award winning STEM educators."

Felicia Moore Mensah, PhD., Associate Professor of Science Education and Program Coordinator, Science Education Program, Teachers College, Columbia University, said, "This exciting initiative brings together STEM education leaders and teachers who will be integrating STEM content and pedagogy.  We are pleased to support this exciting initiative through NASA's Endeavor STEM Teaching Certificate Project.  We are excited about the many new approaches to STEM education that all participants will experience."

Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino said Westchester is proud to be "New York's Intellectual Capital," where over 45 percent of residents age 25 and up have at least a bachelor's degree.  "The jobs of today and tomorrow require a strong STEM foundation," Astorino said.  "I am so thankful to our partners at Regeneron for taking our shared vision to the next level by generously funding the STEM Teaching Fellowship.  Once again, Regeneron is giving back in a way that will benefit our children, schools, communities and economy for years to come."

Ten high-school teachers from the Hudson Valley will be selected through a competitive application process as Regeneron Fellows to participate in the STEM Teaching Fellowship program.  The STEM Education Leadership Center will form a selection committee consisting of science education experts from Teachers College and scientists from Regeneron.  Applicants must hold a valid New York State certification in science or technology education.  The fellowship program, which runs from Summer 2014 to Summer 2015, consists of the following three experiences:

NASA Endeavor Coursework
Fellows will earn a nine-credit graduate certificate in STEM education from Columbia University, in partnership with the NASA Endeavor Science Teaching Certificate Project.

Coursework is delivered live online with interactive lectures.  U.S. Satellite Laboratories administers the NASA Endeavor program at Teachers College.  Upon completing the coursework, Fellows will receive a STEM Leadership Certificate from Teachers College, NASA Endeavor and U.S. Satellite.

Regeneron Science Mentorship
Fellows will engage in research at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals laboratories in Tarrytown where they will be assigned to research teams led by a Regeneron scientist who will serve as team leader and mentor.  Mentors will engage Fellows in real time research projects in the mentor's scientific specialty.

Informal STEM Classroom Internship
Fellows will take part in professional development experiences with STEM master teachers in which they learn how engineering design and technology are integrated in the modern science classroom.  This prepares fellows for leadership opportunities in one of the STEM Education Leadership Center's informal science programs.

The STEM Teaching Fellowship program builds on the Westchester STEM Initiative, a pilot program for Mount Vernon school students funded by Regeneron and the Westchester County Youth Bureau.  The 2013 program engaged under-represented Mount Vernon students through the Westchester Jewish Community Services "Off The Street" program that trains and employs students from Mount Vernon High School as tutors or mentors for elementary school children.  The program provides Project Based Learning experiences using Apple^® iPads that enable students to integrate technology and science knowledge in the engineering context of problem solving.

About Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Regeneron is a leading science-based biopharmaceutical company based in Tarrytown, New York, that discovers, invents, develops, manufactures, and commercializes medicines for the treatment of serious medical conditions.  Regeneron markets medicines for eye diseases, colorectal cancer, and a rare inflammatory condition and has product candidates in development in other areas of high unmet medical need, including hypercholesterolemia, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, and atopic dermatitis.  For additional information about the company, please visit www.regeneron.com.

About STEM Education Leadership Center
The STEM Education Leadership Center is dedicated to building meaningful partnerships with policy makers, public and private school districts, institutions of higher education, local governments, and the business community with the goal of creating and delivering high-quality STEM education for students and teachers.  Based in Rye, NY, the STEM Education Leadership Center has partnered with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, US Satellite Laboratory, Westchester Jewish Community Services, and theWestchester County Youth Bureau to design and deliver after school STEM experiences for students in Mount Vernon, NY.  For additional information about the Center, please visit www.stemedcenter.org.

About the Endeavor Science Teaching Certificate Project
The Endeavor Science Teacher Certificate Project, or ESTCP, awards over 50 fellowships each year to in-service, alternative-route and pre-service formal educators contributing to the development of a science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, workforce based on NASA content and educational materials.  The project helps to ensure that the Certificate in STEM Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, contributes toward teacher licensure or national board certification, assisting Fellows in becoming "highly qualified" science or mathematics teachers.  Fellows may earn a "Leadership Distinction" designation on their ESTCP Certificate.  The ESTCP improves teachers' knowledge of pedagogical content as educators demonstrate changes in practice and apply science concepts.

SOURCE Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.