Advancing Science arose from the convergence of four factors. A few years back, science professors at Gettysburg College were noting how poorly prepared some of their first year students seemed to be, especially in the use of high-tech laboratory equipment. Meanwhile, precollege teachers at a workshop sponsored by the College had lamented the sorry state of their science materials. At about the same time, Juniata College, in North Central Pennsylvania, was receiving a lot of recognition for "Science In Motion," an outreach program that brought state-of-the-art instruments into high school Chemistry classrooms. And the final piece of the puzzle arrived in the form of an invitation to Gettysburg College to apply for a grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) for outreach to precollege students. This confluence of needs, solutions and possible funding was too great to ignore. And so, the idea of creating Gettysburg College's own mobile science resource was born.

A committee of professors and fund raising specialists headed by Dr. Kay Etheridge was formed to pursue the HHMI invitation. A grant proposal was submitted in January of 1993, seeking funds to equip and staff a "science van." A $500,000 grant was awarded. AMP Incorporated (now Tyco Electronics) also contributed funds for the van's computers. Purchasing of the first van and other equipment began in the Fall of 1993. In the Spring of 1994, the program's steering committee hired science teacher Greg Anderson, to drive the van and assist teachers as the project's first Mobile Educator.

September 12, 1994, marked the van's first official visit, to Bermudian Springs High School. The lesson utilized the van's spectrophotometers for an activity on light energy absorbance. The trip was an unqualified success.

The program's popularity has increased greatly from that humble beginning. Through the 2006-2007 school year, our equipment has been utilized almost 13,000 times. Advancing Science has visited hundreds of teachers and schools and made over 340,000 student contacts since its inception.

In response to the increasing demand for more school visits and programs, we requested and received funding from the Whitaker Foundation for a second van, a second Mobile Educator, and expanded teacher training. In July, 1998, Jack Sipe joined the team as our new Mobile Educator. In 1999, 2001, and again in 2004, The Whitaker Foundation renewed its commitment to the program with additional funding. In addition, Tyco Electronics has continued its generous support with funds for new equipment in 1998, 1999 and 2004; a new van in 2001; and operational support for elementary grades every year since 2004.

In 2000 a statewide initiative, spearheaded by Dr. Don Mitchell of Juniata College and funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, launched us into the new millennium by establishing "Science In Motion" vans in nine sites around the state. Advancing Science was included in the initiative, which has been renewed every year since. (Two more sites were also added, making a total of 11 locations across the state.) Having expended all of the HHMI funds by the end of 2000, the Commonwealth is now our primary source of funding.

The change in funding also led to a change in focus for the program. Beginning with the 2001-2002 school year, we have been attempting to make more frequent visits to the same teachers and classes, in order to increase the impact the program has on students' science education. Also, because the state funds are designated to be used at the secondary level, we have placed more emphasis on serving middle and high schools, while continuing to work with the lower grades as much as possible.

In 2006, Advancing Science was awarded the first of several grants (also 2008 and a mulit-year grant in 2009) from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Beginning with the 2006-2007 school year, this grant will lead to a new focus on environmental sciences, specifically issues affecting the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Lesa Bird joined the team in July 2006 to head up our efforts in this area.