AT&T Pledges Support to National Lab Day Partnership

AT&T Labs Researchers to Collaborate Directly with Educators to Develop High-Impact Lab-Based Learning Opportunities for Middle School and High School Students.

AT&T* announced plans to support the new National Lab Day partnership, an initiative to foster collaboration between researchers, students and educators to enhance science and math learning opportunities.

Announced today by President Obama, National Lab Day will occur annually in the first week of May. It is designed as a nationwide initiative to foster scientific and mathematic experimentation and invention in young Americans. Scientists, engineers, college students, parents and others will work together with educators and students to improve labs and inquiry-based science experiences for children in grades 6 through 12.

AT&T Labs researchers will support the initiative by working directly with educators to develop and implement engaging lab-based experiments and lessons for students. The work will expand a long AT&T Labs history of university collaboration and volunteer support of educational programs at all levels.

“Collaboration is at the heart of innovation today, with a wide range of new ideas, technologies and capabilities emerging from the combined efforts of private industry, the public sector and learning institutions,” said AT&T Chief Technology Officer John Donovan. “We’re very excited to participate in the National Lab Day initiative, which applies the same collaborative concept to advancing math and science education. Through this program, our researchers will have new opportunities to share their passion for knowledge with a new generation, serving as direct resources for educators in developing and delivering high-impact lessons and lab experiences.”

Building from a heritage that has produced eight Nobel Prizes, the 1,200 researchers and engineers at AT&T Labs today play a leading role in the research that drives new communications capabilities, data management advances, and wireless and wired network technologies. AT&T’s long heritage of innovation is matched by a strong commitment to education, including AT&T Aspire program, which provides grants, job-shadow programs and other activities to promote continuing education for high school students.