Institute History

SRRI was founded in 1987 through the efforts of its original director, Jack Lochhead. Initially, the Institute was conceived as the synthesis of three components:

1. science education research projects, having established a ten-year funding history;
2. the General Education Basic Math program, originating through a grant from the Exxon Foundation but having acquired State funding, and
3. the Cognitive Processes Research Group, an informal association of faculty researchers from several University schools and colleges.

Unfortunately, the Basic Math Program, existing as it did outside traditional University structures, was an early casualty of the severe budget crunches of the 1990s. (The demise of the Basic Math Program makes all reference to State support for SRRI appearing in the Program and Budget Council’s original report inappropriate and irrelevant.) Since then, SRRI has survived and grown through external research funding secured by the efforts of its members. All three of SRRI’s major groups (CLSG, SERG, and PERG) have a strong track record of securing large NSF grants.