By Jade Floyd
March 20, 2006

Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley held a city-wide Science in the School Day February 28 in 100 public schools across the city. Daley’s office recruited business and civic leaders to lead experiments in 99 schools, while he lead the 100th experiment with children at Finkl Academy, an elementary school in a predominantly Hispanic low-income neighborhood.

Sixty-five students sat anxiously as Daley entered the library. DuPont Public Affairs Manager Mary Kate Campbell, Vice President of U.S. Equities Realty David Myles, Alderman Danny Solis and several public school officials were also on hand to assist the students in the creation of their gumdrop domes. DuPont field engineers Sarah Warren and Andrea Pomarico led the dignitaries and the students in the gumdrop dome experiment.

Several weeks prior to the event, Shonella Danzie, a third student at Finkl, wrote a letter to Daley asking him pick her school, which was one of one-hundred available for him to choose from, as the location for his visit. After reading her letter, Daley did just that, and it was because of Danzie, Finkl was chosen. Danzie worked side-by'side with Daley in the creation of her dome. The experiment is designed to teach students basic structural engineering concepts such as the fact that triangles are stronger than squares.

Engineers guided the children step-by'step through the experiment as seven television cameras bobbed and weaved through the tables gathering footage of Daley assisting students with the creation of their gumdrop domes and visiting with guests. The mayor concluded the experiment as the children scurried to the front of the library where he encouraged students to pile library books on top of four pre-made gumdrop domes. Children cheered on as the mayor and Danzie piled on 23 books on the domes before the structure came tumbling down. This was a new “book record” for the CUSP gumdrop dome experiment!

Daley set another record that day; he held the largest Science in the School Day to date. Chicago’s city-wide Science in the School Day reached more than 7,700 children in one day. Over 75,000 gumdrops and 185,000 toothpicks were purchased by DuPont and packaged by special-ed students from Chicago Public Schools.

“Together, with Mayor Daley, DuPont hopes to be successful in motivating Chicago schoolchildren toward the further exploration of science, mathematics and engineering. We congratulate and thank Mayor Daley for hosting the largest Science in the School Day in our history,” said Campbell.

With more than ten media outlets covering the press conference and event, Daley discussed science and mathematics initiatives across the country and the need for more schoolchildren to study these fields.

“If America hopes to remain competitive in the global economy of the 21st century, we have to continue making the advances in science and technology that made our country so prosperous during the last century, “ said Daley. “Countries like China and India continue to gain the competitive edge because they have made investments in science and math education that allow them to produce more doctors, technicians, engineers and others who are prepared for the jobs of today,” he concluded.

The 99 other school’s experiments were led by their 3rd grade teachers. DuPont traveled to Chicago in early February to train the teachers and distribute the supplies they would need for this event. Teachers listened diligently as they constructed their own gumdrop domes and learned the steps they would need to execute the experiments in their schools on event day.

All 7,700 students participating in Chicago’s Science in the School Day were presented with honorary “Engineer for the Day” certificates signed by Mayor Daley and Arne Duncan, CEO of Chicago Public Schools.

CUSP is a partnership between The United States Conference of Mayors and DuPont. Through the $3 million Lead-Safe…for Kids’ Sake grant program more than 30 cities have received grants and the acclaimed Science in the School Day initiative has visited more than 50 cities with close to 13,000 elementary school children participating.

“We are excited to have a partnership that benefits children who are the future of our cities,” said Conference of Mayors Executive Director Tom Cochran. “CUSP serves as a useful tool for teachers, students and children across the country and helps revive an interest in science.”

For more information on how to bring Science in the School Day to your city, contact CUSP Managing Director Jade Floyd at 202-466-7324 or send e-mail to jfloyd@usmayors.org.