Departments
Planetarium
The DuPont Planetarium exists to inspire others to explore the majesty of the heavens. Each year, thousands of K-12 school children visit the planetarium during the school day for exciting programs that meet science standards. The planetarium also has public shows every Saturday.
Educator Resources
Student programs at RPSEC challenge the present and inspire the future to effect systemic change in science and mathematics education. Its hands-on approach to teaching is designed to help people experience the beauty, the order, and the power of science and mathematics, as well as the interest and fun of discovery.
FREE Teacher Resources and Visiting Scientists Available!
Traveling Interdisciplinary Literacy Trunks (TILTs)
The Traveling Science and Mathematics Demonstrations Program has over 300 science and math kits available for use in the classroom. Supplement your curriculum with nationally recognized and state-adopted exemplary materials. Kits have been correlated to SC state standards. Many kits contain children’s literature so that you can integrate your science and language arts lessons.
In addition to these resources, you can request a visiting Scientist with a Traveling Resources and Neat Demonstrations (STRAND) volunteer for classroom presentations.
For more information, please visit the Traveling Science and Mathematics Demonstrations page or call us at 803-641-3683.
Educator Training
The main purpose of the CEET is to help incorporate educational technology into the classroom. To ensure that all of our South Carolina students have an opportunity to learn to use technology as a tool, preservice and in-service teachers must have adequate preparation and experience so that they can use technology with their students.
The purpose of CE-MIST is to develop and model state-of-the-art in-service and pre-service teacher training programs that concentrate on interdisciplinary curriculum development and implementation at the middle school level.
Providing professional learning activities for teachers is a primary method for reaching our goal of "Infusing a Love for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics." Highly qualified teachers are the primary way to impact our students. Professional Learning at the RPSEC offers a variety of activities during the summer and the academic year.
Professional Learning opportunities focus on a content area but include all STEM areas.
Annual Events
Mark your calendars for the CSRA's premier STEM festival! Join us in October and celebrate innovations in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Visit the Ruth Patrick Science Center and other sites on the USC Aiken campus as student groups, regional corporations, museums, educators, and national labs join forces to present hundreds of activities for people of all ages.
Organizers hope to increase awareness of science and other STEM fields' critical role in our everyday existence.
Future City is a cross-curricular program that lets students in the 6th, 7th, and 8th grades do the things engineers do: identify problems, brainstorm ideas, design solutions, test and retest, build and then share the results. Future City is a program of DiscoverE.
Visit https://futurecity.org for more information.
Inactive Programs
Served the CSRA in South Carolina from 1993 - 2011
The project began as a Statewide Systemic initiative (SSI) grant funded through the National Science Foundation in partnership with the South Carolina Department of Education. The SSI provided leadership and services to schools and districts in mathematics and science.