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 Biotechnology Institute News Digest January/February 2008
The News Digest looks at the world of biotechnology education, with Biotechnology Institute news, links to recent biotechnology education articles and a schedule of upcoming events. The News Digest is published by the Biotechnology Institute, the national organization dedicated to biotechnology education.
BioGENEius Application Deadline Extended, New Travel Award for Regionals The application deadline for the prestigious sanofi-aventis International BioGENEius Challenge, the annual competition for high school students that recognizes outstanding research in biotechnology, has been extended to February 15. Students should submit their application and research project description to the Biotechnology Institute for state judging. U.S. applicants selected as state finalists are eligible to receive a $400 travel award (new this year!) and an invitation to compete in a spring 2008 sanofi-aventis Regional BioGENEius Challenge event. Two finalists from each of the six U.S. regions will receive an all-expense paid trip to compete at the sanofi-aventis International BioGENEius Challenge in San Diego, CA, which will be held June 16-18, 2008. For more information, visit http://www.biotechinstitute.org/programs/biogeneius_challenge.html. Applications to Teacher-Leader Program Now Being Accepted Applications are now being accepted to the 2008 National Biotechnology Teacher–Leader Program. Teachers from across the United States and around the world participate in the Institute’s intensive premier teacher training program during the International Conference on Biotechnology Education. This five-day program, which will be held June 14-17 in San Diego, CA, provides participating teachers professional development, resources and other support materials to spread awareness of biotechnology to their students and to educate their peers to do the same. The program includes sessions that highlight state-of-the-art curriculum, labs, and programs in biotechnology; networking with colleagues, industry leaders, and professionals in the field of biotechnology education; training on how to provide professional development to other teachers; field trips to local biotechnology companies; and a $250 certificate from Invitrogen for supplies and equipment. Applicants are responsible for securing sponsorship. The corporate rate of sponsorship is $10,000 per teacher and the government, non-profit and school district rate is $5,500 per teacher. The application deadline is April. 1 For information, visit http://www.biotechinstitute.org/programs/t_leader_program.html. Application Deadline for Minority Fellows Program Extended The application deadline date for the Minority Fellows Program has been extended to March 1. The program pairs graduate students, post-doctoral researchers and faculty from underserved populations at colleges and universities with industry Mentors. Fellows are introduced to the biotechnology industry during the Biotechnology Institute’s International Conference on Biotechnology Education, where Mentors and Fellows attend sessions on new and emerging technologies, mentoring, scientific content updates, and field visits to local industry and research facilities. All Fellows attend the subsequent BIO Annual International Convention. The program continues with a year of mentoring. Companies that have provided mentors are Amgen, Exelixis, Novartis, Genzyme, Pharmanet, and several law firms involved in the development of patent law and intellectual property. For information and to download an application, visit http://www.biotechinstitute.org/programs/minority_fellows_program.html. Institute to Distribute New Book on Evolution The Biotechnology Institute has entered into an agreement with the National Academies to distribute Science, Evolution, and Creationism to top leaders of biotechnology companies and to members of its large national network of teacher-leaders. Published by the National Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Medicine on January 4, this new edition of the influential book gives the public a comprehensive and up-to-date picture of the current scientific understanding of evolution and its importance in the science classroom. For more information, visit http://www.biotechinstitute.org/news/news_detail.php?news_id=49. Chicagoland Stem Cell Education Forum The Biotechnology Institute is partnering with the National Academy of Sciences and members of the Illinois education and biotechnology communities to hold the Chicagoland Stem Cell Education Project, a forum for discussing stem cell education and research. The forum, to be held February 22 at Northwestern University, will allow 120 teachers, leading scientists, and journalists to discuss stem cell research, including its underlying scientific foundations and realistic promise, ethical and societal considerations, and approaches to teaching it to Illinois students.This is one of four stem cell education forums that will be conducted in 2008 by the Biotechnology Institute and its national partner, the National Academy of Sciences.Sponsors of the Chicagoland Stem Cell Education Project include Astellas Foundation, Baxter Healthcare, Chicago Council on Science and Technology, iBIO Institute, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Illinois State Board of Education, Northwestern University, The University of Chicago, University of Illinois at Chicago, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and the Chicago Biomedical Consortium. Genome Workshops a Success The Biotechnology Institute recently conducted “Genome: The Secret of How Life Works,” a free professional development sessionfor teachers sponsored by Pfizer, in Atlanta, GA, and St. Louis, MO.Participants learned hands-on, low-cost labs they can use with their students from the Institute's new curriculum about the genome. The workshops included a certificate of participation as well as a copy of theresource guide Genome: The Secret of How Life Works. The Genome Resource Guide is a reference tool on genomics for biotechnology teachers. The 112-page, full-color guide is full of hands-on activities that have been welcomed for their simplicity and for using low-cost, easily found equipment and materials. The discounted price for teachers is $25, a fraction of the cost of producing the field-tested guide. Orders of six or more book receive a 20% discount. For more information, visit http://www.biotechinstitute.org/resources/genome.html. Wyeth Scholars Program Rolls On
A particular focus of the project is to serve schools with diverse student bodies. The scientist and teachers work together for a period of one year, including the kick-off two-day workshop in October 2007 at Wyeth’s headquarters. The teams then met January 12 at Ridley High School outside of Philadelphia and will continue with a follow-up workshop in early spring 2008. The one-year program will culminate with the Wyeth Scholars and veteran teachers’ participation in the Institute’s National Biotechnology Teacher-Leader Program, to be held June 14-18 in San Diego. Wyeth has made a commitment to support to support the program for up to four years, with a grant of $125,000 per year. Institute People in the News John Taylor-Lehman and Michelle Galloway of Tri-Valley High School in Dresden, OH will be presenting a session called “Some 'Shoestring Biotechnology' Activities I Learned as a Member of the 2006 National Teacher-Leader Program" at the Science Education Council of Ohio Conference in Akron, OH, on February 8.Taylor-Lehman was a member of the Teacher-Leader Program in 2006 and afinalist for the 2007 Genzyme-Invitrogen Biotech Educator of the Year Award. Biotechnology Education News Headlines Below is recent biotechnology education news. See more news at http://www.biotechinstitute.org/news/. DC-Area Schools Heed Science Industry's Warning. Universities in the Washington, DC, region are in the forefront of a movement to train more people to enter science and technology professions and meet what industry leaders call an urgent need to expand the workforce to keep the U.S. economy competitive. At least eight schools in the District and Maryland are offering or drawing up plans for a two-year professional science master's degree. The PSM program is designed to provide more advanced training in science or mathematics -- with a dose of business skills. The PSM degree, sometimes described as a science version of the MBA degree, is being hailed as one of the most promising innovations in graduate education in years. Last year, Congress provided funding for schools to establish or improve PSM programs through the America Competes Act. About 1,300 students are enrolled in PSM programs at more than 50 schools nationwide, officials say. (Washington Post, 1/28/08.) Gwinnett, GA, Students Try to Answer Organic Questions. The lesson called on students to detect GM (genetically modified) foods by PCR (polymerase chain reaction). Basically, students run an experiment to see if any food had its DNA altered.The activity is one of several high-level lessons students work on in the biotechnology program. The course lets Gwinnett high-schoolers perform experiments most students don't work on until junior year of college. Think of the course as a classroom version of the television show CSI. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 1/28/08.) Maryland and Swedish Students Compare Marine Biotechnology Projects. The Maryland Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics program is meant to challenge students and prepare them for college. Students from Carroll County high schools sank disks into waterways around their homes and schools in recent months, pulling them out to photograph and identify the organisms living in different environments, and to compare their results with what students in Sweden discovered. (The DC Examiner, 1/16/08.) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you enjoy the News Digest, please forward a copy to friends and colleagues. To unsubscribe from this mailing, please send an email to news@biotechinstitute.org with the subject line “unsubscribe.” For more about the News Digest and to sign up for a free subscription, visit http://www.biotechinstitute.org/news/news_dig.html. |
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