To counteract shortfalls the country is facing in the science and mathematics education sector, the Board of Regents on Friday announced the creation of a consortium that will address them.

Deans of the colleges of science and mathematics at all nine public institutions in Utah, along with representatives from public education and the community will play a central role in understanding and solving global problems in energy, food supply, human health and national and international security.

"We believe that right now we have a serious situation in terms of education in the fields of math and science," said Dale Ostley, of the Weber State University College of Science. "It is critical to have a well-trained work force in science, engineering and mathematics."

Ostley said the group has met several times the past year to discuss ways to work together to "attack the problems we face" as demands continue to increase and resources dwindle.

Utah's technological, biomedical, pharmaceutical, chemical and natural resources industries are in need of creative leaders and workers with a solid foundation in math and science, according to findings of the board. Students in the U.S. are continually lagging in math and physics achievement when compared to students around the world and show decreasing proficiency levels as well.

Utah's Math and Science Education Consortium, which was originally a proposal from former commissioner Rich Kendell, aims to remedy the problem within the state, with hopes of allowing schools to emerge as educational leaders and businesses to excel.

The collaborative effort will require efforts from all nine Utah System of Higher Education colleges and universities, school districts, the Utah State Office of Education and the scientific and business communities. Goals of the group will include policy revisions, program development, strategic planning, course and curriculum revisions where necessary and teacher preparation.

"We have a real chance to increase the science and mathematics pipeline," Ostley said, adding that not only will the proposals strengthen industry, but will provide students with opportunities to succeed.

The "one-of-a-kind" initiative, said Regent Kathy Garff, has the potential to be successful in the state.

Funding for the group's functions and activities will likely come from grants and private support, but has yet to be identified.

"We believe that the proposed consortium is uniquely positioned to advance the state into a new and exciting era in math and science education," said Pierre V. Sokolsky, dean of the University of Utah College of Science.

Regents pushed the proposal forward during a meeting at Weber State University on Friday, hoping that increased efforts will "produce more mathematicians, scientists, engineers, technicians and teachers, and directly or indirectly produce a more robust economy that is driven by mathematics and science disciplines," according to Utah Commissioner of Higher Education William A. Sederburg.

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