1. Role/Scope/Mission: The Gordon A. Cain Center for Scientific, Technological, Engineering and Mathematical (STEM) Literacy fosters and supports STEM initiatives and collaborations among LSU faculty from the Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Basic Sciences, Education, and Engineering and serves as the bridge to link LSU to K-20 colleagues from across Louisiana. The Cain Center informs and educates policy-makers to support and improve teaching and learning in formal and non-formal education settings. It is committed to local, statewide, and national partnerships, and a research and evaluation agenda that is national in scope and statewide in approach. Supported by $36.8 million in current grant and contract support, the Center's primary 2009-10 project strands and strategic efforts are as follows.

Math and science teachers can boost their knowledge and make professional connections through the master of natural sciences degree program at LSU, which just announced a $5 million funding award. The money will provide $20,000 fellowships for 96 master’s degree candidates in the region to take summer and evening classes at LSU over three years starting in 2010.

Tuition is waived for teachers who participate in the opportunity, underwritten by the National Science Foundation.