2.24.2006 ET

(CSRwire) KANSAS CITY, MO. - Reaffirming its commitment to provide Kansas City elementary school students with a quality hands-on science education, Bayer today awarded its second significant grant in just over one year to the Kansas City Science Initiative (KCSI). A systemic science education reform initiative spearheaded by Bayer and the Kansas City, Missouri, School District (KCMSD), KCSI was launched in 2004 as a pilot program in two elementary schools.

Provided by the Bayer Foundation as part of Bayer Corporation's Making Science Make Sense® program, the $150,000 grant, dispersed over three years, will enable KCSI to reach its ultimate goal of expanding into all 46 KCMSD elementary schools. To date, this brings Bayer's financial commitment to KCSI to $250,000.

KCSI works to implement a National Science Education Standards-based science learning and teaching program that provides two key components - ongoing professional development for teachers and an inquiry-based, hands-on curriculum - that will allow students to learn science the way scientists do, by doing it, rather than just reading about it.

Specifically, the new grant will help KCSI purchase science curriculum kits and supplies and provide teacher professional development for all kindergarten through fifth-grade classrooms in the five schools currently participating, as well as additional new schools as the program expands. The current schools include the two original pilot schools - East and Cook Elementary - as well as three new schools added to the program in fall 2005 - Gladstone, Hartman and Knotts Elementary. The funds also will support the hiring of a program director.

In addition, Bayer and KCMSD announced that the Kansas City Area Life Sciences Institute (KCALSI) has signed on as a key partner in KCSI. As a partner, KCALSI will house the reform program's headquarters and help galvanize support from other local corporations, foundations and individuals.

Attending the event held during the spring 2006 Teacher Professional Development Workshop were Arlin Bostian, Senior Vice President of Research and Development, Bayer CropScience LP; Joerg Ohle, President, Bayer HealthCare LLC- Animal Health Division; Superintendent Dr. Bernard Taylor; and KCALSI President Dr. William Duncan. Together, they witnessed KCSI in action, as teacher trainers introduced 40 KCMSD kindergarten through fifth-grade teachers from the five pilot schools to their grade appropriate experiential science kits with topics ranging from plant growth and the life cycle of butterflies to electric circuits and the concepts of floating and sinking.

"KCSI is an important science education reform program that will ultimately benefit all of our students by supporting their teachers, giving them the foundation upon which they can truly provide a world-class science education in their classrooms. As a founding partner, Bayer has worked with us from the start, providing the kind of ongoing commitment and support essential to this kind of systemic endeavor," said Superintendent Taylor.
In addition to the significant financial investment made by Bayer, Superintendent Taylor said the company also continues to provide human and educational resources, including:

Ongoing strategic counsel to the pilot schools from ASSET Inc., Pittsburgh's science education reform program spearheaded by Bayer in 1992 that has dramatically improved student achievement in science in Southwest Pennsylvania.

"For us at Bayer, our involvement in improving U.S. science education is based on two key tenets - our commitment to sustainable development and being a socially responsible corporate citizen, and to helping develop the next generation of innovative thinkers and problem solvers by providing them the best possible science education available, including right here in Kansas City," said Bayer CropScience's Bostian.


Bayer Animal Health's Ohle added, "KCSI is the newest of seven systemic science education reform programs Bayer has created over the last decade. A good number of them now have a growing body of assessment data showing U.S. students can and do achieve in science when taught using this hands-on, hearts-on, minds-on approach."

Bayer's Making Science Make Sense (MSMS) program is a company-wide initiative that advances science literacy across the United States through hands-on, inquiry-based science learning, employee volunteerism and public education. Currently, Bayer's Kansas City site is one of 12 Bayer sites around the country that operate local MSMS programs, which together feature a national volunteer corps of more than 1,000 employees.

In Kansas City, Bayer has a roster of 170 employee-volunteers who work in elementary schools to help teachers teach and students learn science the way scientists do - by doing it. These volunteers also serve as mentors and science fair judges. In addition, the site has established partnerships with several local schools and sponsors training workshops for teachers to help them implement hands-on, inquiry-based science learning in their classrooms. In October 2004, Bayer announced a major new partnership with the Kansas City, Missouri, School District to spearhead the Kansas City Science Initiative which brings systemic science education reform to K-5 classrooms.

Bayer has long demonstrated a strong commitment to the Kansas City area. It is home to Bayer CropScience's Core Technology Center and North American headquarters for Bayer HealthCare's Animal Health Division.

Bayer CropScience LP is the U.S. business of Bayer CropScience, which has its global headquarters in Monheim, Germany. Bayer CropScience, a subsidiary of Bayer AG with annual sales of about EUR 6 billion, is one of the world's leading innovative crop science companies in the areas of crop protection, non-agricultural pest control, seeds and plant biotechnology. The company offers an outstanding range of products and extensive service backup for modern, sustainable agriculture and for non-agricultural applications. Bayer CropScience has a global workforce of about 19,000 and is represented in more than 120 countries.

Bayer CropScience LP in the United States has its business headquarters in Research Triangle Park, N.C. Sites in Kansas City, Mo., and Stilwell, Kan., comprise the company's Core Technology Center.

Bayer HealthCare's Animal Health Division is the maker of K9 Advantix®, a triple-protection mosquito, tick and flea control product for dogs, and Advantage® flea control for dogs and cats. The division is a worldwide leader in parasite control and prescription pharmaceuticals for dogs, cats, horses, cattle and poultry. North American operations for the Animal Health Division are headquartered in Shawnee, Kan. Bayer Animal Health is a division of Bayer HealthCare, one of the world's leading companies in the health care and medical products industry.

Both companies are part of the global Bayer Group. Bayer Corporation, headquartered in Pittsburgh, is part of the worldwide Bayer Group, an international health care, nutrition and innovative materials group based in Leverkusen, Germany. In North America, as of April 2005, Bayer employed about 16,000 and had 2004 net sales of 8.3 billion euros. Bayer's three operating companies -- Bayer HealthCare LLC, Bayer CropScience LP and Bayer MaterialScience LLC -- improve people's lives through a broad range of essential products that help diagnose and treat diseases, protect crops and advance automobile safety and durability. The Bayer Group stock is a component of the DAX and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (ticker symbol: BAY).

Partnering with community leaders and providing philanthropic support have long been a part of Bayer Corporation's culture. In 1953, Bayer created the first of three foundations, which later all merged to become the Bayer Foundation. The Bayer Foundation is an endowed 501(c)(3) and is the single source for Bayer's philanthropic giving throughout the United States. The mission of the Bayer Foundation is to support programs that enhance the quality of life, provide unique and enriching opportunities that connect diverse groups, and ensure preparedness for tomorrow's leaders - thereby, resulting in sustainable partnerships that continually improve communities in which our employees live and work. Because we are committed to improving communities in which our employees live and work, the Foundation gives primary consideration to organizations that serve these communities.

For more information please contact:

Rebecca L. Lucore
412-777-5200

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