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 Biotechnology Institute News DigestNovember/December 2005 The News Digest looks at the world of biotechnology education, with Institute news, links to current 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:
Education Conference Application Deadlines Approaching Planning is underway for the 2006 Biotechnology Institute Annual Education Conference, which will be held in Chicago, April 6-9. This event integrates the Institute’s core programs into a one-of-a-kind national conference that focuses on best practices, competitions, hands-on professional development sessions linked to education and skill standards and introduces students to the biotechnology industry.Application deadlines for the programs are just around the corner. Mark your calendars with the deadlines below.
For information about the education conference and to download program applications, visit http://www.biotechinstitute.org/events/2005conference/annual_conference.html. Serono BioFest a Success On November 1, the Biotechnology Institute and Serono, Inc., hosted Serono BioFest, a celebration of biotechnology at Serono’s U.S. headquarters in Rockland, Mass. During BioFest, students and teachers from Massachusetts’s South Shore toured the Serono facility, met with scientists who work for the Serono Research Institute, and learned more about biotechnology. More than 60 students submitted a poster for the Serono BioFest poster competition in which all students K-12 on the South Shore were invited to enter their artistic interpretation of what biotechnology means to them. Each poster was grouped into a grade category; first place winners received a $250 scholarship prize. The Biotechnology Institute congratulates the winners: Julia Madden, Jenkins School, Scituate (Grades K-3); Aiden Maguire, Halifax Elementary School, Halifax (Grades 4-6); Milou Lammers, Hingham Middle School, Hingham (Grades 7-9); and Christine Patterson, Rockland High School, Rockland (Grades 10-12). The winning posters will be entered into the Institute’s nationwide 2006 BioDreaming Poster Competition. Serono also announced that it will sponsor 10 teachers from the South Shore to attend the 2006 National Biotechnology Teacher-Leader Program, which will be held April 6-9 in Chicago, Ill. For more information about Serono BioFest, see http://www.biotechinstitute.org/seronobiofest.html.
Institute Professional Development Sessions Major Draw at Education Conferences The Institute is continuing to build awareness and understanding of biotechnology education among teachers and students through professional development sessions at major education meetings. In October, the Institute conducted professional development sessions for more than 200 teachers at science education conferences such as the New Jersey Science Convention (October 5; Somerset, N.J.); National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT) Annual Convention (October 5-9, Milwaukee, Wis.); and the Northeastern Area National Science Teachers Association Convention (October 20-22, Hartford, Conn.) In the upcoming weeks, professional development sessions will be presented at the Midwestern Area NSTA Convention in Chicago, Ill. (Nov. 10-12); the Virginia Association of Science Teachers (VAST) Annual Professional Development Institute in Roanoke, Va. (Nov. 17-19); the 2005 Biotechnology Workshop at Lycoming College in Williamsport, Pa. (Nov. 21-23); the Southern Area NSTA Convention in Nashville, Tenn. (Dec. 1-3); and Pfizer Professional Development at HealthSpace Cleveland, Ohio (Dec. 17). For more information about upcoming events, visit http://www.biotechinstitute.org/events/event_list.php Teachers-Leaders Reaping Awards Several graduates of the Institute's National Biotechnology Teacher-Leader Program were recognized at the recent annual convention of the National Association of Biology Teachers. Sherry Annee (Indiana), Sandy Collins (Kansas), Gabriel Ayyavoo (Ontario) and Tracy Jordan (Quebec) received the Outstanding Biology Teacher Award. The award recognizes outstanding biology teachers of grades 7-12 in each of the 50 states, Canada, and U.S. territories. Andrea Ferraco of Greensburg, Penn., received the Outstanding New Biology Teacher Award, which recognizes outstanding teachers within his or her first three years of teaching. The Teacher-Leader Program has built a cadre of more than 1,000 teachers who are a network of dedicated advisors or "Teacher-Leaders" committed to teaching biotechnology to students and serving as a resource for other teachers. Through professional development, resources and other support materials, the Teacher-Leader Program provides teachers with the skills, strategies and knowledge to spread awareness of biotechnology to their students and peers. For more about the Teacher-Leader Program, visit http://www.biotechinstitute.org/programs/t_leader_program.html Biotechnology Institute Welcomes New Employees The Institute has welcomed three new employees over the last several months. Kerry Whitlock joined the staff as development manager and will be responsible for fundraising activities. Jeff Ghannam is the new communications director. He will oversee the Institute’s public relations activities. Jong-on Hahm is the vice-president for biotechnology talent and will provide oversight to the Institute’s initiative to encouraging the best and most diverse pool of talent to enter the field of biotechnology. For more about the Institute’s staff, see http://www.biotechinstitute.org/about/staff.html
Upcoming Events Below are upcoming biotechnology education events. See http://www.biotechinstitute.org/events/event_list.php for more events and information.
Biotechnology Education News Headlines Below is recent biotechnology education news. See more news at http://www.biotechinstitute.org/news/. Biotech Educator Named Idaho Teacher of Year. Mick Sharkey of Butte Central High School was named Idaho’s teacher of the year. Sharkey has taught for 17 years and presently instructs sophomores, juniors and seniors in biology, advanced biology and biotechnology. But Sharkey has taken the subject to a whole new level, teaching DNA science, molecular genetics and other high-interest science concepts. (Montana Standard, 11/8/05.) Taking Biotech to the Streets. The Boston University School of Medicine's MobileLab is putting college-level science equipment on wheels--allowing public schools' science departments to learn participate in advanced biotechnological experiments. (Daily Free Press, 11/7/05.) Biotech Curriculum Becoming a Reality at North Carolina Community College. Biotechnology is becoming a curriculum at Cleveland Community College in Shelby, North Carolina. CCC is waiting for approval from the N.C. Community College System to begin the curriculum. The program would is to be offered by fall 2006. (Shelby Star, 11/4/05.) Hands on Biotech in Pittsburgh. Ellen Wright's biology students conducted an experiment last week at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History . After donning surgical gloves and plastic goggles, the 20 high school students used gel and electricity to break apart strands of DNA, the molecules that contain unique genetic material found in every creature. Wright's students spent the morning in the new Fisher Scientific Biotechnology Lab, which opened to the public Saturday. (Associated Press, 10/30/05). 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.
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