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 Biotechnology Institute News DigestOctober/November 2004 The News Digest looks at the world of biotechnology and biotechnology education, with links to current articles, Institute news 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:
Biotechnology Institute Launches National Bioethics Program Recent support from Hoffmann-La Roche Inc. (Roche) will enable the Institute to respond to the growing demand from teachers for high-quality, comprehensive and balanced bioethics curriculum for biotechnology education. “We are pleased to provide this critical component of bioethics for biotechnology education,” said Kathy Frame, Vice President for Educational Programs, Biotechnology Institute. “The Institute is uniquely positioned to aid educators in integrating bioethics into our own biotechnology curriculum because of our far-reaching, successful, and growing professional development program that benefits teachers nationwide.” The Institute will conduct a three-day planning conference in February, 2005, with a team of experts and leaders in science education, bioethics, biotechnology and genetics, to develop a bioethics curriculum resource tool. The tool will be based onthe New Choices, New Responsibilities: Ethical Issues in the Life Sciences program, an initiative funded by Roche andoriginallydeveloped byThe New Jersey Science Education LeadershipAssociation, an organization consisting of more than 450 science educators and supervisors that is a state affiliate of the National Science Education Leadership Association, in concert with The Hastings Center, a leading bioethics research organization. The resource will fit into biotechnology curriculum nationally and be integrated into sessions offered by the Institute’s National Biotechnology Teacher-Leader Program. The Institute wishes to thank Roche for their generous support of this program. Roche, based in Nutley, N.J., is the U.S. prescription drug unit of the Roche Group, a leading research-based health care enterprise that ranks among the world's leaders in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. Roche discovers, develops, manufactures and markets numerous important prescription drugs that enhance people's health, well-being and quality of life. Among the company's areas of therapeutic interest are: dermatology; genitourinary disease; infectious diseases, including influenza; inflammation, including arthritis; metabolic diseases, including obesity and diabetes; neurology; oncology; osteoporosis; transplantation; vascular diseases; and virology, including HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C. For more information, contact Kathy Frame at 703.248.8681 or kframe@biotechinstitute.org. Teachers Training Other Teachers in Biotechnology
Fall marks the official kick-off at the Biotechnology Institute to a whole series of professional development workshops for teachers interested in biotechnology education. A core component of the Institute’s mission is to build a cadre of 1,000 teachers to form a network of dedicated advisors or “Teacher-Leaders” committed to teaching biotechnology to students and other educators through its National Biotechnology Teacher-Leader Program. As part of the program, Teacher-Leaders commit to conduct an outreach workshop to other teachers-either at the local, state, or national level-encouraging their integration of biotechnology into the classroom. The following Teacher-Leader outreach workshops are just a few recent examples of the program’s ripple effect taking hold within the education community.
The Institute congratulates these Teacher-Leaders for making a major impact in spreading awareness and enthusiasm for biotechnology! Additional professional development opportunities are available on the Institute’s Web site at www.biotechinstitute.org. Genzyme and Invitrogen Partner with Biotechnology Institute to Inspire Next Generation of Industry Leaders The Biotechnology Institute recently announced a unique partnership with Genzyme Corporation and Invitrogen Corporation to recognize and support teachers’ efforts to introduce biotechnology into high school classrooms through an award based on the Institute’s National Biotechnology Teacher-Leader Program. The National Biotechnology Teacher-Leader Award recognizes excellence among the Biotechnology Institute’s “Teacher-Leaders” who have found innovative methods for integrating biotechnology into their high school science curriculum and serve as a resource to their peers. Invitrogen will co-sponsor the Award with Genzyme, whose initial funding enabled the launch of the competition earlier this year. Click here to learn more about the Award. Vaccines Featured in Fall Issue of Your World Magazine Hot off the press is the Fall issue of Your World: Biotechnology & You, the premier biotechnology magazine for middle and high schoolers, with a timely feature story titled “Vaccines: Boosting Your Defenses.” The story profiles different types of vaccines, how they’re made and the advantages and disadvantages of each type. The issue, “Emerging Diseases: New and Old,” focuses on new diseases, as well as diseases thought to have been eradicated, such as tuberculosis. Partial support for the Fall issue has been provided by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; continued support for the magazine is provided by Centocor, Inc. and OrthoBiotech. Click here to view a sample issue of Your World or to start your subscription today!
Biotechnology Institute Board Member Recognized as Co-Inventor on Gene Patent In what Science magazine calls an apparent first, the lay leader of an advocacy group has been recognized as a co-inventor with four scientists on a gene patent. Sharon Terry, executive director of the group PXE International in Washington, D.C. and a Biotechnology Institute board member, is one of five inventors on a patent issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The work deals with a transporter gene that causes a rare connective tissue disorder known as PXE. Terry is the mother of two children with PXE and the article notes that a diagnostic test should be available by the end of the year. More on the story can be found at the Science magazine Web site. Click here for details. Upcoming Events National Biotechnology Teacher-Leader Program Workshops & Sessions November 10-13, 2004: National Biotechnology Teacher-Leader Professional Development Session, NABT 2004 National Convention, Chicago, IL The Biotechnology Institute will have a widespread presence at the upcoming NABT annual convention in Chicago. In addition to reaching high school science teachers through its exhibit, the Institute’s Kathy Frame will conduct a one-day professional development session for teachers featuring selected, hands-on activities from the award-winning book Shoestring Biotechnology, co-published by the Institute and NABT. For more information, contact Kathy Frame at 703.248.8681, kframe@biotechinstitute.org or visit the NABT Web site at www.nabt.org. November 12, 2004: Teacher-Leader Workshop, “Biotechnology, Genomics, and Bioinformatics for High School Students,” Presenter: Peter Judson, Quebec Provincial Association of Teachers 2004 Convention, Le Palais Des Congre De Montreal, Montreal, Canada. Click here for more details.
November 23, 2004: Teacher-Leader Workshop, “Crime Scene: Shoestring Biotechnology,” Presenter: Dr. Ted Love, Marysville High School, Marysville, CA. Click here for more details. December 3, 2004: National Biotechnology Teacher-Leader Professional Development Session, National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) Meeting, Richmond, VA. Click here for more details. Other Events November 15, 2004: Biotechnology/Life Sciences Day: “Education and Industry Working Together,” East Wing, Capitol Rotunda, Harrisburg, PA Sponsored by the Bureau of Career and Technical Education, Pennsylvania Department of Education, Noon-4:30 p.m. Secondary and post-secondary students, each matched with an industry partner, will conduct hands-on demonstrations. Representatives from the biotechnology and life sciences arenas will also exhibit, including the Biotechnology Institute. Kathy Frame will serve as a panelist at the event. For more information, contact Esther Brown, Pennsylvania Bureau of Career and Technical Education, at 717.772.4968 or ebrown@state.pa.us. November 17, 2004: Lunch and Learn: Getting Involved with K-12 Sponsored by the BIOCOM Education Subcommittee, Noon-1:30 p.m., 4510 Executive Drive, Plaza Seven.This event is complimentary to BIOCOM members. Encourage San Diego’s middle and high school students to study science and consider scientific careers by participating in High Tech Fair, Expanding Your Horizons, and Job Shadowing! Join BIOCOM’s Education Subcommittee for a complimentary lunch, and a demonstration of the ways your company can get involved in promoting science education in San Diego. We’ll even give you a list of ideas to get you started, and the 2005 dates to add to your calendar. For more information or to RSVP please email Suzanne Kocian at skocian@biocom.org.
Biotechnology News Headlines The following are recent selections of news stories that appeared in scientific publications recently. The Institute staff thought these articles would be of particular interest to our teacher and student readership. For more news headlines on the latest developments in biotechnology, visit www.biotechinstitute.org and click on “News Resources.” Drug might become first for specific race A two-drug combination pill dramatically reduced deaths among blacks with heart failure, a landmark finding that is expected to lead to government approval of the first medication marketed for a specific race. Associated Press, November 9, 2004 Click here for the complete story. Nanotechnology-based products have impact For a science that's about manipulating substances at the molecular level, nanotechnology is starting to bring big profits to many consumer product makers. Associated Press, November 8, 2004 Click here for the complete story. Biotech firm wants to breed allergy-free cats A company is exploiting the latest in biotechnology to create cats genetically engineered to be nearly free from the allergy-causing proteins that plague millions of people. Associated Press, October 27, 2004 Click here for the complete story. World Food Prize laureate credit biotechnology Two rice breeders presented with the $250,000 award earlier this month at the World Food Prize international symposium cited modern biotechnology as providing the shortcut in their work to develop high-yielding rice plants. Des Moines Register, October 14, 2004 Click here for the complete story.
About the Biotechnology Institute The Biotechnology Institute’s mission is to engage, excite and educate the public, particularly young people, about biotechnology and its immense potential for solving human health, food, and environmental problems. To learn more about opportunities to support the Institute’s programs, please contact Paul A. Hanle, Biotechnology President, at 703.248.8681 or phanle@biotechinstitute.org. For program information, contact Kathy Frame at kframe@biotechinstitute.org.
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