Georgia Youth Science & Technology Center ( GYSTC), Inc.

Founded in 1995, the Southwest Georgia Youth Science & Technology Center, Inc. is a nonprofit educational organization designed to promote interest and enthusiasm in science, math, and technology among elementary and middle school teachers and students.  The Center is affiliated with Southern Polytechnic State Unviersity, and is located on the Bainbridge College campus in Bainbridge, Georgia.

Currently, there are sixteen regional Georgia Youth Science & Technology Centers open and operational across the state.  The goal is to establish 25 centers to provide services to school systems state-wide.  More than 285,000 students and 73,000 teachers have participated in GYSTC programs.

The Southwest Center serves Baker, Calhoun, Decatur, Miller, Mitchell and Seminole Counties and encourages the participation of other counties.  The Center has a Regional Board of Directors comprised of education, government, and business leaders in the area.  Funding for the operation of Southwest GYSTC and ts training opportunities is provided by the school systems which it serves, donations from local businesses and industries, and some matching funds from the state GYSTC parent organization.

For teachers, the Center offers course and staff development workshops with hands-on activities for use in the science, math or technology classroom.  DOS and Macintosh computers in the Center will provide a training laboratory to help teachers integrate computers, laserdiscs, CD-ROM, and Internet into their teaching.  Teachers may also use the Center as a resource of current information about new science and math programs being developed across the country.  For students, the Center presents programs that target all age groups with activities which are both fun and educational such as Science Olympiad, Saturday Science, Family Science and Summer Science camps.  In some cases, schools will bring students to the Center to see special exhibits or visit the StarLab Planetarium.  In addition, Southwest GYSTC will conduct classes or assemblies in the schools.

The rate of scientific and technological change in this country over the next twenty years is expected to be 500 times what it has been over the past twenty years.  Every student of tomorrow will need to be more comfortable and familiar with current technologies, regardless of the chosen career.  The Southwest GYSTC welcomes your support and invites you to become an active participant as our coalition of business, industry, education, and government works together to bring more science, math, and technology education to our children of Southwest Georgia.

| Resources and Field Trip Opportunities | GYSTC state office at Southern Polytechnic State University |