Project Description.
The purpose of this project is to develop and expand regional Science Alliances throughout Kentucky to facilitate teacher interaction for high school and middle school physical science teachers in Kentucky. Kentucky was divided into eleven regions to establish Alliance. Invitation letters were sent to all chemistry and physics high school teachers, college and community college professors and middle school science teachers who had previously expressed an interest in attending. Lewis Priddy, District Science Resources Teacher (K-12) for Hardin County Schools, has been most helpful in contacting teachers and providing local leadership.

All meetings began at 5:00 or 5:50 p.m., started with a light meal or refreshments and lasted for about two and one-half hours. The activities for the evening included general discussion, distribution of free take home items (generally energy related), books, make and take items, filed trips, and handouts related to Mole Day activities, science resources, and demonstrations. The total value of the items given to teachers attending the first three meetings was $125, excluding food. The sign-in sheets on which e-mail addresses were included were distributed to the attendees to facilitate continued communication.

Achievements.
The first Alliance meeting was held in 1996 at Jenny Wiley State Park. In the 28 months since September 1996, 38 Alliance meetings have been held throughout the state, which were attended by 469 teachers, an average of 12 teachers per meeting. In conjunction with theses meetings, I usually spent the day at a school in the area to present chemical magic shows and slide presentation on "The Energy Crisis" and "Forensics, a Career in Chemistry." In the past 28 months, the project director has given presentations at 56 locations and been in contact with approximately 12,160 students.

Goals and Objectives.
Activities in the future will emphasize making items for use in demonstrations and chemical magic shows. Uses and applications of these tools will be demonstrated. The goal is to get teachers to use the demonstrations in class as well as in chemical magic shows where their students perform for other students in and out of their schools. The funds will be used to give teachers chemical and supplies that they don't normally have and do not have the budget to purchase. Chemistry magic shows will be continued and we will attempt to involve college pre-service teachers as assistants. Continue with field trips to locations that employ scientists.

Evaluation.
Participation has improved but is still not as good as it should be. Eight Regional Science Consultants (former high school science teachers) have been recently appointed with whom the project director has been in contact., He will work together with them to get more teachers, especially middle school science teachers, involved.

Sustainability.
The Regional Science Consultants and teachers will be encouraged to take a more active role in running the meetings so as to be able to take over when DOE/EPSCoR funding ceases. Community College faculty have also demonstrated an interest n providing leadership. Sources of funding will also be investigated for use in conducting future Alliance meetings and to provide supplies and travel for doing chemical magic shows. Possible sources include the American Chemical Society Outreach Grant and local industries (much like Chemical Manufacture Association used to provide). We will seek additional sources of funding.


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