Capital Area Institute for Mathematics and Science

The Capital Area Institute for Mathematics and Science (CAIMS+) is devoted to the promotion of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education, continuing its founding mission to improve the delivery of STEM content, while forging a new path that strengthens research, professional development, entrepreneurship, and information services through collaboration between and among faculty on all Penn State campuses, other universities, businesses, and industries.

CAIMS+ brings the strength of Penn State’s expert faculty and research resources to bear on the problems facing our region’s math and science educators, as well as coordinating math and science summer camps and other programs that give students engaging, hands-on experiences to which they might not otherwise have access. CAIMS' past successes have included providing science kits to schools and instruction to teachers.

Recent Successes

• Five-year National Science Foundation program provided to four school districts through a partnership with Penn State Medical School researchers: graduate courses to teachers, instruction to students, one week each summer in a medical school lab, culminating in a week long residency program at the Juniata College Environmental Center.
• Three-year program with Steelton-Highspire (Select Medical funding), provided by-weekly science programs to students; special hands-on instruction by a naturalist; activity by a space/science museum, and a day at PSH in various labs.
• Project Impact provided professional development, equipment, and services for teachers from the following districts: Harrisburg, Lower Dauphin, and Central Dauphin.

Future Focus on Expansion

• CAIMS Celebrates 25 Years of Success (CAIMS is the only remaining viable program of the original Capital Area Goals 2000).
  • Major Celebration and Fundraising scheduled for April 2018
  • Publicity campaign for future support and expansion, including possible billboard
  • Expansion of Advisory Board
  • Viable partnerships with industries
• Exploring further means to target our focus on science and math technology.
• Exploring partnerships for workshops in partnership area Intermediate Units, Educational Associations and the Department of Education
• Focus on training teachers to use technology
• “Trade show” type conferences that would bring in tech vendors to demonstrate their wares and provide hands-on training, and train the trainer events.