Science education plays a role in all areas of development and benefits the well being of its citizens.

At the national level, the Lao government has ambitious plans for developing the country. For example, they plan to build 8 hydro-electric projects on the Mekong river and another 50 on its tributaries. They need Lao people with a scientific understanding to implement, manage and maintain these projects. Hiring outside consultants is not in the best interest of Laos.

At the local level, a basic understanding science can improve the quality of life for Laotians. Science is a natural seed for new business ventures and cottage industries. Literacy is enhanced by Village Science's goal to produce science texts in the local languages. Basic science forms the foundation for vocational level study in the fields of textiles, carpentry, cookery, health, agriculture, construction, electronics, auto-mechanics, accounting, etc. The scientific method supports basic problem solving and critical thinking which are necessary skills for a community to lift itself out of poverty.

Laos has the lowest official development indicators in Southeast Asia and faces serious challenges of poverty and food security, problems especially acute amongst the subsistence farming communities which form the bulk of the population. [uk.oneworld.net/guides/laos/development, last accessed Jan 2010]

Students teach themselves calculus out of old photocopies of Thai textbooks. Teachers give rote memorization lectures on chemistry from the single book available at the school. Teachers and students are working so hard with so very little to improve their education.

The Village Science organization can magnify the results of their efforts with appropriate science materials and improved methods.

Hopefully on to college with a scholarship. Several students from the community library run by www.thelanguageproject.org, that we support, have won international scholarships to study in Thailand and Australia. We certainly don't take credit for their hard work, but hopefully we were valuable to them in their pursuit of higher learning.

We are exploring the possibility of a program to support entrepreneurial development. Students from this program would launch businesses that are useful and appropriate to their community.

Goal 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger.

The Village Science organization fights extreme poverty through education. Programs in permaculture and business incubation are examples of the ways Village Science is helping people to get themselves out of poverty.

Goal 2: Achieve universal primary education.

There is general agreement that education is one of the critical pieces necessary for a developing country to lift itself out of poverty. The Village Science organization believes that science needs to be a significant part of a universal primary education. We believe that science education coupled with local business incubation can make a marked improvement in the quality of life for those in developing countries.

Goal 3: Promote gender equality and empower women.

The Village Science organization supports this target by empowering women as the key change agents for education, health, and the end of hunger by training young women as future leaders.

The Village Science organization supports this target by empowering women as the key change agents for education, health, and the end of hunger. Training students, and especially young women, as future leaders with a mentality of equality is key to improving the quality of life in underdeveloped countries.

Goal 4: Reduce child mortality &  Goal 5: Improve maternal health.

Educating women on basic health is key to reducing child mortality rates. Village Science is designing programs to promote cultural change that will improve prenatal and neonatal care.

Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases.

Understanding modes of transmission is paramount to preventing infection and combating HIV, malaria and other diseases. By developing education materials that are enjoyable, Village Science helps students make better choices for the world in which they live.

Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability.

Village Science follows environmentally sustainable practices and seeks to bring new supplies and methods in support of sustainable development. Science education at the community level is important for underdeveloped countries to grow with environmental sustainability.

Goal 8: Develop a global partnership for development.

Village Science actively seeks to contribute and participate in the ongoing global conversation for intelligent development.

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