Posted September 1, 1999

Professor and former Chancellor Chang-Lin Tien was recently appointed to two national advisory panels on science and education -- the National Commission on Mathematics and Science Teaching for the 21st Century and the National Science Board.

On July 20, U.S. Secretary of Education Richard Riley appointed Tien a member of the new National Commission on Mathematics and Science Teaching, a 24-member council chaired by former senator and astronaut John Glenn.

"I'm very much looking towards participation, because of my background in science, technology, education and administration," Tien said.

The Glenn commission is charged with developing a strategy to raise the quality of mathematics and science teaching in the nation's classrooms.

Other members include Sen. Edward M. Kennedy and former UC Vice President Walter E. Massey.

The commission will submit its findings to Riley next fall.

Also in July, Tien was sworn in as a member of the National Science Board, which governs the National Science Foundation, setting foundation policy and advising the president and Congress on science and engineering matters.

"I feel very much honored to have the opportunity to join both high-level boards and commissions," Tien said. "I hope I can participate in a way to help elevate the science and education of this country. We are the leading country in the world [in these areas], and we need to maintain this."

Tien said his experience at Berkeley, as an educator and former chancellor of a public institution, will be "very helpful." He particularly cited his interest in outreach to disadvantaged and underrepresented minorities and women. "Those are very important in both science and math education," Tien noted.

September 1 - 7, 1999 (Volume 28, Number 4)
Copyright 1999, The Regents of the University of California.
Produced and maintained by the Office of Public Affairs at UC Berkeley.
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