This summer aerospace defense contractor Lockheed Martin Corp. will host 20 elementary, middle and high school teachers as part of a fellowship program to build a workforce with strong math, science and technology skills.

The company is offering the program in conjunction with the Bay Area-based Industry Initiatives for Science and Math Education (IISME).

One key component of the program is that it places qualified teachers into local companies and research labs for an eight-week learning experience. During this period, each teacher, paired with an industry mentor, augments his or her science and math skills by solving real-world problems. The goal for teachers is to use the experience to stimulate student interest in math and science.

This summer, Lockheed Martin IISME Fellows will focus on technical challenges associated with space-based programs under development at the company's Sunnyvale and Palo Alto facilities, including satellite telecommunications, missiles, defense systems and other advanced technologies.