To Educate Creatively

The Howard Hughes Medical Institute announced a competition for $60 million in science education grants that "challenges colleges and universities to think creatively about how they educate future scientists, science teachers, and a scientifically-literate public," according to the institute. HHMI invited 215 colleges and universities to apply for these grants, which will range from $800,000 to $1.6 million over four years. The schools will be judged on their programs to nurture "the talent and leadership skills of students" as well as their "overarching" educational goals and programs and any programs they have in cooperation with other institutions. "The question is not whether we can produce more scientists and science teachers, but whether we can produce better ones," says David Asai, director of HHMI's precollege and undergraduate program, in a statement.