intensive summer training options and other resources

Programs for Teachers

Biotechnology: the basics — June 26-30,2023
FULL — Biotechnology: Beyond the Basics — July 10-14, 2023

overview:

Both courses will be held at the BTC Institute on the Promega Corporation campus in Fitchburg, WI.

Recognizing that funds for professional development are limited, there are no course fees and stipends are provided to successful applicants. Stipends are $125 per day for each course. The registration form for each course includes a section designed for applicants to upload a letter that details interest in the course. These forms will be activated on January 1, 2023.

We view the provision of stipends as a way of further collaborating with the teachers we serve. This financial support is received with the provision that content covered in the course or workshop will subsequently be incorporated into recipients’ course materials; shared with students and colleagues; and, documented in the form of a report submitted to us upon completion.

For both courses, Peter Kritsch (Oregon High School) will serve as the primary instructor and Tess Reimer (Sun Prairie High School) will serve as an assistant instructor.

Many thanks to the Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium, a member institution of the national network of Space Grant Consortia funded by NASA’s National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program, for Aerospace Outreach Program funding over the years to support these efforts, as well as to our corporate sponsor, Promega Corporation!

We also offer a listing of Resources for Biotechnology Education.

Biotechnology: The Basics

June 26-30, 2023

This course is designed to introduce teachers to the fundamentals of biotechnology. The course will begin with a review of DNA structure and function. From there we will explore how different tools are used to investigate and analyze DNA.

Topics include DNA extraction, micropipetting, gel electrophoresis, restriction enzyme digestion, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), bacterial transformation, biomanufacturing, and NASA and biotechnology. In addition, there will be opportunities to discuss bioethics and stem cells, careers and training in biotechnology and biomanufacturing, develop your laboratory preparatory skills, and collaborate with other teachers to integrate biotechnology into your curriculum. If your knowledge of biotechnology is limited or you want to brush up on basic biotechnology techniques, this is the course for you!

Course Application: Enrollment is limited to 16 participants, all of whom are eligible to receive a $625 stipend. Graduate Education Credit will be available.

Register Now

Full - Biotechnology: Beyond the Basics

July 10-14, 2023

This one week laboratory based course is designed for teachers to learn and practice advanced biotechnology techniques used in molecular biology.

Topics and laboratories include: gene expression & protein purification; genetic identity testing using Short Tandem Repeats (STRs); immunology - antibody isolation and detection; DNA sequencing; bioinformatics; genomic editing; biofuels; biomanufacturing; biotechnology and NASA; developing coordinated and integrated lab activities and troubleshooting experiments; careers and training in biotechnology and biomanufacturing.

In addition, there will be opportunities to discuss bioethics, develop laboratory preparatory skills, and collaborate with other teachers to integrate biotechnology into the curriculum. Throughout the course the relevance of all content and associated laboratory techniques to NASA projects will be emphasized.

Course Application: Enrollment is limited to 16 participants, all of whom are eligible to receive a $625 stipend. Graduate Education Credit will be available.

Join the Waitlist

HOTEL INFORMATION

Wyndham Garden Hotel – Madison Fitchburg
2969 Cahill Main
Fitchburg, WI 53711

The Basics (Block Code 062623BTC)
06/26/23 checking out 06/30/23; Kings / Double Queens – $99/night
Cutoff Date: 05/27/23

Beyond The Basics (Block Code 071023BTC)
07/10/23 checking out 07/14/23; Kings – $99/night
Cutoff Date: 06/11/23

Here’s a complete listing of area hotels that offer BTC Institutes rates: Hotels – BTCI

“All of the experiments were excellent - useful. straightforward, and I could implement them immediately!”

- Biotechnology: The Basics -- 2021 in-person participant

“Awesome! I feel this gave me some specifics that I can use to communicate vital information with my students.”

- Biotechnology: The Basics -- 2021 in-person participant

“This was such a valuable week. I would recommend this workshop to any colleague interested in this topic.”

- Biotechnology: The Basics -- 2021 in-person participant