Our latest newsletter is available as a pdf. Click here for the Winter 2007 MVSTA Newsletter.

The following is a writeup about our Section which should appear in the April STANYS Newsletter.

 Mohawk Valley Section

Lee Kowalsky, Chairperson

Bob Bond, Director

The Mohawk Valley Section honored retiring Congressman Sherwood Boehlert on November 29, 2006 for his commitment to science and education during his 24 years in Congress.  Congressman Boehlert served on the Science Committee since 1983, and was elected Chairman in January 2001. The Committee has jurisdiction over all federal nonmilitary scientific and technology research as well as development programs, NASA, the National Science Foundation, and research and development initiatives within the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Energy, and the Department of Commerce.

Boehlert's priorities as Science Committee Chairman were in the areas of energy, education and environmental policy. His focus was on improving the nation's K-12 math and science education in the nation's public schools, fully supporting university-based scientific research, developing sound research and development policies to promote better energy efficiency, including alternative fuels for vehicles.  He was instrumental in the funding of the repair of the Hubble telescope and scholarship for future science teachers to mention a few of his accomplishments.

Congressman shared with the group some his personal feelings and observations about some of the issues, politicians and experiences in Congress.  He informed us the Science Committee picked him as a freshman Congressman, and he found it ironic since that the last science class was high school physics.  As he looked back, he said his natural curiosity and drive for knowledge served him well in this position. 

With Congressman Boehlert’s retirement from Congress, the science educators of this area acknowledged his years of placing science as a priority in his vision and agenda.