Farnsworth honored by Livermore School District
Farnsworth, who retired from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) in January, has long been involved with LLNL's Science Education Program, serving as its manager for over a decade. Farnsworth has been dedicated to promoting science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education for students and teachers. The Board and District chose to formally honor Farnsworth, upon his retirement, with a plaque and presentation for his committed service to the students and staff of the LVJUSD.
Livermore School District Superintendent, Kelly Bowers, has served in many different curricular and educational roles in the District during Farnsworth's tenure. "We have worked collaboratively with Dick at every step of the way, to vision, partner, and implement innovative projects and programs," she said.
Farnsworth is well known for his popular "Science on Saturday" community outreach program that partners a LLNL scientist with a high school science teacher to present a technical talk in an engaging way to students. For many years he coordinated the MathCounts middle-school mentoring project that linked LLNL volunteers with local math students and he managed the Edward Teller Science Education Symposium, which brought local teachers to LLNL one Saturday each year for a day of friendly interaction with lab scientists and engineers. He also collaborated with U.C. Davis to plan and institute the Teacher Research Academy (TRA) , a professional development program for teachers, at the Edward Teller Education Center to support teachers in teaching science.
Farnsworth served on the Granada High School Biotechnology Pathway Advisory Committee for the three years of the Pathway grant and has been an invaluable link between LLNL and LVJUSD. "He has worked diligently on behalf of our students through support and expansion of our annual LVJUSD Science Odyssey event, our Math Counts program, the Granada High School Biotech Program, the Livermore High School Green Engineering Academy, the live NASA downlink, the Edward Teller Scholarship Program, and the Science on Saturday series, just to name a few key examples," Bowers said.
Bowers praised Farnsworth for his passion and enthusiasm for STEM education. "Dick has consistently come through for our students and staff, no matter how great or small the project proposed. We will definitely miss his presence and support at the LLNL, but we wish him the best in his well-deserved retirement. We also know that he has left a wonderful legacy behind and his work and the positive LLNL and LVJUSD relationship he has forged, will positively impact future generations of students," she said.
Contact
Carrie L Martin[email protected]
(925) 424-4715
Related Links
Science on SaturdayTeacher Research Academy
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Science on Saturday
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Science
Community Outreach