Biotechnology Institute

News Digest

November/December 2007

 

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.

In this issue:

  • New Issue of Your World Magazine Now Online
  • Genome Workshops in Atlanta and St. Louis
  • Minority Fellows Program Applications Deadline Extended
  • Darwin Day Celebrations Being Held Nationwide
  • Biotech Community’s Southern California Fire Relief Efforts
  • Biotechnology Education News Headlines

 

New Issue of Your World magazine Now Online
The latest issue of Your World: Biotechnology & You, the online biotechnology education magazine, is now available for free at www.biotechinstitute.org. The issue highlights several areas of biotechnology research, with a feature on how it is addressing a very rare illness, progeria, which causes young children to age very quickly. The magazine now also includes expanded content that appeals not only to teachers and students but also to their parents and other adults interested in biotechnology. The online availability of the magazine will allow for easier distribution to all readers in biotechnology education. Centocor, Inc., and Ortho Biotech have generously sponsored Your World magazine.

 
For more about Your World, including the latest issue, visit http://www.biotechinstitute.org/resources/your_world_magazine.html.

Genome Workshops in Atlanta and St. Louis
The Biotechnology Institute will be conducting “Genome: The Secret of How Life Works,” a free professional development session for teachers sponsored by Pfizer, in Atlanta, GA, and St. Louis, MO. Participants will learn hands-on, low-cost labs they can use with their students from the Institute's new curriculum about the genome. The workshop includes a certificate of participation as well as a copy of the resource guide Genome: The Secret of How Life Works. The Atlanta workshop will be held November 28 at the Fernbank Science Center; the St. Louis workshop will be held November 30 at the Taylor Community Center.

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.

 

Application Deadline for Minority Fellows Program Extended
The application deadline date for the Minority Fellows Program has been extended to January 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.

Darwin Day Celebrations Encouraged
Darwin Day is annual celebration that provides an opportunity for scientists to informally share the excitement of new discoveries and inform the public about science, particularly evolutionary science, in the 21st Century. The celebration is held on or near Charles Darwin’s birthday, which is February 12. Science organizations are encouraged to sponsor and produce their very own event on February 12. The 2008 celebration is a preamble to a greatly expanded event that will commemorate occasion of Darwin’s bicentennial birthday in 2009.

For information, visit www.darwinday.org. For information about teaching evolution in the classroom, visit http://www.biotechinstitute.org/teaching_evolution/.

Southern California Biotech Community’s Fire Relief Efforts
BIOCOM, the life science industry association in Southern California, has joined forces with Invitrogen to establish two wildfire recovery relief funds to aid the San Diego community. One is for immediate needs (the Fire Relief Biotech Immediate Response Fund) and the other is for long-term help with rebuilding (the Fire Relief Biotech Recovery Fund). Each will provide grants to non-profit relief organizations recommended by the San Diego Regional Disaster Fund Board. In June 2008, San Diego will host the Biotechnology Institute’s International Conference on Biotechnology Education and the BIO International Convention. Invitrogen is a cosponsor of the Biotechnology Institute’s Genzyme-Invitrogen Biotech Educator Award.

For more information and to donate, visit www.sdfoundation.org.

 

Biotechnology Education News Headlines

Below is recent biotechnology education news. See more news at http://www.biotechinstitute.org/news/.

English, Algebra, Phys Ed...and Biotech. The United States, birthplace of most of the great commercial advances of the last 60 years, must increasingly rely on overseas talent, otherwise known as imported brains, to maintain an edge. But research universities aren’t content to rely only on the overseas pipeline, and are working to make science and engineering studies more appealing to American students. Sometimes overlooked in this mix is how high schools can help cultivate a fresh crop of scientists, engineers and lab technicians. Secondary science and mathematics education is on the rise, with growing numbers of students in more challenging classes. Some public high schools are giving students lab experiences that approach, or even exceed, those found in university settings. And some teachers see an economic payoff in all of this. Biotechnology, for example, remains a promising field, and companies in the industry have less math-intensive demands than electronics and computing employers. So biotech is a popular field with students and is emerging as an educational proving ground. (New York Times, 11/18/07.)

Biotech Program Brings CSI: Miami to Classroom. After three years of planning and grant writing, Miami Dade College launched its own biotechnology program this fall, joining the fold of an ever-growing industry. CSI: Miami, however, had little to do with the program's creation. The impetus was an increase in manufacturing and biotech industries in Florida, particularly in recent years. Florida has a high source of labor that can potentially turn into a substantial and trained applicant pool to meet the industry's demands. 'The state has close to 90 biotech companies and 90 pharmaceutical companies, and over 400 medical device manufacturing firms. (Miami Herald, 11/11/07.)

California Panel Seeks More Support for Biotechnology. A revived state Commission for Economic Development is calling for increased efforts to boost work force training and support in crucial growth areas for California, such as biotechnology. But the commission learned at a meeting at Miramar College that training programs the industry considers crucial are forced to exist with a smattering of funds or short-term grants. (San Diego Tribune, 11/7/07.)

Call for Applications: The Amgen Award for Science Teaching Excellence. Amgen announced that it now invites applications for its annual Amgen Award for Science Teaching Excellence. This award is designed to recognize and honor extraordinary science teachers at the K-12 level, who significantly impact their students through exemplary science teaching and who achieve demonstrated results in student learning in communities where Amgen operates. With a longstanding commitment to science education, Amgen established the teacher awards program to promote and encourage science excellence in public and private schools. Since the program's inception in 1992, Amgen has awarded more than $1.7 million to educators who have made exceptional science-teaching contributions and who have significantly impacted the lives of their students. Amgen is expanding its program this year, and will honor a total of 32 teachers in California, Colorado, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Washington and Canada (British Columbia and Ontario). (Business Wire, 11/1/07.)

 

Events and Professional Development Sessions

Below are upcoming biotechnology education events. See http://www.biotechinstitute.org/events/event_list.php for more events and information.

To submit your event, go to http://www.biotechinstitute.org/news/intake.html.

Biotechnology: Touching Our Lives through Biofuels, Medicines & More! November 20, Lycoming College, Williamsport, PA.
A full-day workshop of hands-on laboratory activities for use in the classroom. Earn six continuing professional education hours (ACT 48 for PA teachers).  Registration fee ($20) payable to Muncy School District at the door.  Sponsored by Lycoming College and Muncy School District.

NABT Professional Development Conference. November 28-December 1; Atlanta, GA
The 2007 Annual Conference of the National Association of Biology Teachers will draw experts and teachers colleagues from across the nation to share ideas, approaches, and plans that will help teachers maximize classrooms as forums for learning, debate, and understanding.

 

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