Vernier Science Education

Vernier Software & Technology was founded in 1981 in Portland, Oregon, at the home of David Vernier, a high-school physics teacher, and Christine Vernier, a local business manager.[http://www.vernier.com/caliper/fall06/history.html The Caliper, Fall 2006] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100307031930/http://www.vernier.com/caliper/fall06/history.html |date=March 7, 2010}} David Vernier became acquainted with the use of computers and sensor technology, known as "probeware" or "Microcomputer Based Labs" (MBL), after attending a workshop at the Oregon Graduate Center. This workshop inspired him to found Vernier Software & Technology.{{Cite web |last=Tinker |first=Robert |title=A History of Probeware |url=http://www.concord.org/work/software/ccprobeware/probeware_history.pdf |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20110725195016/http://www.concord.org/work/software/ccprobeware/probeware_history.pdf |archive-date=2011-07-25 |access-date=2025-03-09 |website=Concord Consortium}}

The first software programs developed by Vernier were scientific simulations for Apple II computers. He originally developed the programs for use in his physics classes, but later decided to sell them. His wife took out an advertisement in a newspaper and the programs became popular. Vernier Software & Technology was incorporated as a company in 1981, with David as CEO.{{Cite web |date=2024-05-24 |title=Profile: Perpetual Motion |url=https://oregonbusiness.com/profile-perpetual-motion/ |access-date=2025-03-12 |website=Oregon Business |language=en-US}} Christine originally handled the business aspect of the company. David took a leave of absence from teaching and began working at the company full time in 1984.

Gradually, the company began making software for other computers using the DOS operating system and for Macintosh computers. In the late 1980s, the company started producing assembled temperature sensors and many other types of sensors, such as photogates and motion detectors for studying moving objects.{{Cite journal |last=Robertson |first=Charles E. |date=1992-11-01 |title=From mousetraps to Macintoshes |url=https://pubs.aip.org/aapt/pte/article-abstract/30/8/484/270768/From-mousetraps-to-Macintoshes?redirectedFrom=fulltext |journal=The Physics Teacher |volume=30 |issue=8 |pages=484–486 |doi=10.1119/1.2343614 |issn=0031-921X|url-access=subscription }} Vernier collaborates with Texas Instruments to develop the Calculator-Based Laboratory (CBL).{{Cite book |last=DeBettencourt |first=Kathleen Bajorek |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NNqs7Xrg1iQC&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&lpg=PA33&dq=calculator%20based%20library%20vernier&pg=PA33#v=onepage&q=calculator%20based%20library%20vernier&f=false |title=Environmental Connections: A Guide to Environmental Studies |date=2000 |publisher=Kendall Hunt |isbn=978-0-7872-7105-3 |pages=33 |language=en}}

Oregon Business Magazine called the company of the "100 Best Places to Work in Oregon" in 2010,{{Cite web |title=Oregon Business - 2010 100 Best Places to Work Award |url=http://www.oregonbusiness.com/articles/82-march-2010/3110-the-2010-100-best-companies-to-work-for-in-oregon |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100616145307/http://www.oregonbusiness.com/articles/82-march-2010/3110-the-2010-100-best-companies-to-work-for-in-oregon |archive-date=2010-06-16 |access-date=2010-06-07}} and one of the "Best Green Companies in Oregon" in 2009.{{Cite web |title=Oregon Business - 2009 Green Companies Award |url=http://www.oregonbusiness.com/articles/59-june-2009/1726-the-green-list |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140323001903/http://www.oregonbusiness.com/articles/59-june-2009/1726-the-green-list |archive-date=2014-03-23 |access-date=2013-07-24}} In 2008, the company partnered with Lego Education to allow sensors to be used with Lego Mindstorms NXT.[http://www.lego.com/education/download/EducationCollaborationAnnouncedatNIWeek.pdf LEGO Education] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060920185950/http://www.lego.com/education/download/EducationCollaborationAnnouncedatNIWeek.pdf|date=September 20, 2006}} It also partnered with Tufts University, National Instruments and Carnegie Mellon University.{{Cite web |last=Riedel |first=Chris |date=July 2, 2008 |title=Vernier Offers Free Software, Plays with Legos, Goes Green For Education - |url=https://campustechnology.com/articles/2008/07/vernier-offers-free-software-plays-with-legos-goes-green-for-education.aspx |access-date=2025-03-09 |website=Campus Technology |language=en-US}} Barack Obama visited the company during his 2008 presidential campaign.{{Cite web |date=2008-05-09 |title=Obama's visit surprises Beaverton software workers |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/siliconforest/2008/05/obamas_site_visit_surprises_be.html |access-date=2024-05-28 |website=oregonlive |language=en}}

Vernier stepped down as CEO in 2015, and was replaced by John Wheeler.

In August 2022, the company announced that it had changed its name from Vernier Software & Technology to Vernier Science Education.{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=eSchool News |date=2022-08-17 |title=Vernier Software & Technology is now Vernier Science Education |url=https://www.eschoolnews.com/newsline/2022/08/17/vernier-software-technology-is-now-vernier-science-education/ |access-date=2023-03-02 |website=eSchool News |language=en-US}} That year, it launched Vernier Connections, a website with science projects and educational material.{{Cite web |date=2022-04-06 |title=Vernier Announces New Online Platform for STEM Literacy |url=https://www.govtech.com/education/k-12/vernier-announces-new-online-platform-for-stem-literacy |access-date=2025-03-12 |website=GovTech |language=en}}

Jill Hedrick became CEO of the company in 2024.

Vernier Science Education funds the Vernier Technology Laboratory at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry,[http://www.omsi.edu/ Home | OMSI] and the Vernier Science Center at Portland State University.{{Cite web |title=Portland State celebrates grand opening of Vernier Science Center {{!}} Portland State University |url=https://www.pdx.edu/news/portland-state-celebrates-grand-opening-vernier-science-center |access-date=2025-03-12 |website=www.pdx.edu}}{{Cite web |last=Oregonian/OregonLive |first=Betsy Hammond {{!}} The |date=2020-01-29 |title=Local tech entrepreneurs give Portland State $4.5 million to kickstart upgrades to aging science building |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/education/2020/01/local-tech-entrepreneurs-give-portland-state-45-million-to-kickstart-upgrades-to-aging-science-building.html |access-date=2025-03-12 |website=oregonlive |language=en}} The company also presents the annual Vernier Technology Awards to seven teachers at the National Science Teachers Association convention.[http://www.nsta.org/pdfs/awards/Vernier.pdf National Science Teachers Association] {{Archive url|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090824024431/http://www.nsta.org/pdfs/awards/Vernier.pdf|date=2009-08-24}}[http://www.eschoolnews.com/2008/06/02/21-000-in-cash-and-science-equipment-from-vernier-software-technology/ eSchool News]

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• {{Official website|http://www.vernier.com}}

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Category:1981 establishments in Oregon

Category:Companies based in Beaverton, Oregon

Category:Educational software companies

Category:Educational technology companies of the United States

Category:Software companies established in 1981