Enhancing Lab-Based Biotechnology Opportunities
for Students & Educators
Primary Contacts
Diane Kraus, Dane County School Consortium (DCSC)
dkraus@dscs.org, 224-7165
Karin Borgh, BioPharmaceutical
Technology Center Institute (BTCI)
karin.borgh@btci.org, 277-2618
Barbara Bielec, BioPharmaceutical
Technology Center Institute (BTCI)
barbara.bielec@btci.org, 277-2508
PLEASE NOTE:
(1) Until January 22nd, WIRED funding opportunities are available to Dane County high schools only, with each school allocated one slot per program (with the exception of the Teacher Workshops, for which there are two slots). Once these slots have been used by a school, additional teachers/staff from that school who are interested in one or more of these programs can either pay the associated fee or be placed on a waiting list for possible support from remaining funds (see (3) below for details).
(2) Beginning January 23rd, funds not fully utilized by Dane County high schools will be made available to public high schools in the South Central – Southwest WIRED Region, following the same slot allocation policy as outlined above.
(3) Beginning February 26th, any remaining funds will be used to support the participation of those on the waiting list. NOTE: In order to be included a waiting list, a registration form must be completed. These slots will be filled in order of the times/dates indicated on registration forms submitted via the BTC Institute website and, therefore, may be offered to more than one additional participant from a particular school.
(4) NOTE: For the Biotechnology: The Basics and Biotechnology: Beyond the Basics courses, only one set of equipment will be provided to each school, regardless of the number of teachers who enroll in either one or both courses.
Summary of Grant Funded Opportunities for Academic Year 09/10
Each of the 21 high schools in the 16 DCSC districts can receive funding support for:
(1) Biotechnology Field Trip Program - $1000 /high school for field trip(s) and transportation.
(2) Biotechnology Teacher Courses - $500/high school for one teacher to take either of two graduate education courses + $1000 of equipment with successful completion of the course.
(3) Biotechnology Teacher Workshops - $100/ teacher for 2 teachers from each of 21 high schools to take one day biotechnology workshops at BTCI.
(4) Biotechnology Training for School to Career Coordinators (STCC), $200/ STCC.
Program Details
(1) BTCI’s Biotechnology Field Trip Program offers hands-on laboratory experiences to over 2500 middle school and high school students each year. Current field trips options are: Bioluminescence Genetic Transformation, Restriction Enzyme Digestion and Agarose Gel Electrophoresis of DNA, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) of DNA, and Immunology. Field trip costs range from $75 - $300 for visits to BTCI by 1-2 classes. If BTCI staff travel to your school instead, costs range from $200-$600 depending on the activity and number of students. Each high school will receive $1000 to assist in covering field trip fees and/or transportation costs. Financial arrangements will be handled by BTCI. Field trips may be scheduled up to May 28, 2010, but early scheduling is encouraged -- after January 22, 2010 these funds will be made available to additional counties in the region. DETAILS
(2) BTCI offers two, one week-long biotechnology courses for teachers: Biotechnology: The Basics and Biotechnology: Beyond the Basics. Typically offered for graduate credit from Viterbo University and Edgewood College, high school teachers with a wide variety of training and experience have taken these courses. Since biotechnology can be implemented in many different ways, enrollment is typically split between Agriculture/Technical Education teachers and Biology/Science teachers. $500 of funding is available for a teacher from each high school to take one of the courses. Upon course completion, each teacher will also receive scientific equipment and supplies, valued at $1000, for classroom and laboratory use. Payment of fees and funds for equipment will be handled by BTCI. Biotechnology: The Basics will be held June 14-18, 2010 and Biotechnology Beyond the Basics will be held June 21-25, 2010. In order to insure participation, teachers should register by January 22, 2010; after that, registration will be opened up to other counties. DETAILS
(3) BTCI also offers Biotechnology Teacher Workshops which are customized to meet the needs of different groups. $200 of funding is available for 2 teachers from each high school to participate in a workshop (cost of $100/ teacher). Workshops are scheduled for: Friday, Nov. 20, 2009; Friday, Dec. 11, 2009; Friday, Feb. 19, 2010; and Friday, March 19, 2010. Payment of fees will be handled by BTCI. After January 22, 2010, this opportunity will also be made available to teachers in other counties. DETAILS
(4)
The Dane County School to Career Consortium Youth Apprenticeship
Programs, including the YAP-Biotechnology Program, are managed by a
School to Career Coordinator in each district. Interest has been
indicated in specialized biotechnology training for these
coordinators, many of whom do not have scientific backgrounds. BTCI
offers Molecular Technology Basics for the Non-Scientist (MTBNS),
a one-day, hands-on training designed to provide attendees with a
basic understanding of molecular biology. This training will be
offered to the School to Career Coordinator for each district at a
reduced rate of $200/day on: Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009; Tuesday,
Jan. 26, 2010; Thursday, Feb. 11, 2010; Wednesday, March 10, 2010;
and, Tuesday, May 25, 2010. Payment of fees will be handled by
BTCI. Once again, after January 22, 2010, this opportunity will
be made available to coordinators in other counties in the South
Central-Southwest WIRED region. DETAILS