Genomic Sciences Institute
Education at The
Genomic Science Institute focuses on collaborations between area school
districts, community learning institutions, and biomedical researchers. We focus our activities on the
following projects aimed at increasing science literacy in the area of
biology and biotechnology.
High School Science Teacher Professional Development:
Funded by the United States
Department of Education, we offer a professional development workshop for
high school biology teachers who would like to update and expand their
conceptual knowledge, inquiry-based teaching skills and pedagogical
repertoire. Throughout the
week-long workshops, teachers interact with research scientists, participate
in laboratory investigations, and learn methods for creating exemplary
teaching plans for their classrooms. These workshops use genomics as a
content-specific platform across biology, since genetics and genomics are
fundamental to every biological discipline.
Advances in genomics
highlight the changing face of human genetics, as the Human Genome Project
expands our knowledge of the genetic basis of human disease, and highlights
the scientific and social ramifications of having our genetic blueprint
known. Genomics also opens up new ways of thinking about human pathogens,
their impact on our lives and health, and illustrates how biological science
is practiced in the 21st Century as an interdisciplinary field where biology
and computer science come together to analyze bourgeoning data from the
genomic sequencing of so many genes from so many different organisms. Genetics is arguably one of the most fundamental of scientific
disciplines, not just for students wishing to go into science and
biotechnology careers, but also for every student who will become a patient,
parent or informed citizen in the genomics age. These content deepening seminars are designed for all high school
biology teachers to update and extend their knowledge of biology by
understanding genomics and the impact of genomic sequencing on biological
science. Our June 2008
workshop focused on microbial infections, with an introduction to current
concepts about bacteria that can cause infections such as MRSA. Prior
workshopss included basic
genetics, the molecular biology of DNA, an
introduction to genomics and the Human Genome Project, and bioethics.
A future workshop is
planned on the exciting study of Bioinformatics.
Biotechnology Technician Training Program:
Through a
partnership with the Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC), we provide
research experiences for students completing their Biotechnology Technician
degree at CCAC. Students work with selected faculty and master technicians at
the Center for Genomic Sciences and learn to employ the concepts, procedures
and technological tools of the scientific workplace.
Allegheny Women’s Biotechnology Workforce Collaborative:
Allegheny
Women's Biotechnology Workforce Collaborative (AWBWC) is an educational
intervention designed to support women who have been displaced from the
workforce. To address the
economic needs of a region, and more particularly a community, the AWBWC has
brought together a workforce investment board, a community college,
biotechnology research institutes, and community redevelopment organizations
with a localized group of disadvantaged women. By providing these women with
a cost-free education, intensive support services, and life skills preparedness,
we ready them for a career in the field of biotechnology, as well as increase
their ability to become financially independent. The women selected for this 3- year
program will earn a Biotechnology Technician Associates Degree from CCAC and
will be placed in internships at the Center for Genomic Sciences and other
area research laboratories.
Open Heart Surgery Observation:
In partnership
with the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery at Allegheny General Hospital, we
offer high school biology teachers and their students the opportunity to
observe an open heart surgery. Through the glass observation dome, they are
able to see the surgical team perform an open heart surgery procedure such as
valve replacement and coronary artery bypass. They will also be able to speak with a
member of the surgical team about the surgery and careers in medicine. They witness first hand how the
surgical team works together, the wonder of the human body, and the effects
their choices make on their own health.
Our observation program is available on Mondays and Thursdays during
the school year.
SciTech at the Carnegie
Science Center:
Allegheny-Singer
Research Institute is a Silver Sponsor of SciTech, a week-long science and
technology expo for middle school and high school students. For more information, visit:
http://www.carnegiesciencecenter.org.
Featured
at SciTech 2008, the daVinci® Surgical
System. Allegheny
General Hospital is
one of only a few hospitals in the Pittsburgh
area that uses this ground-breaking technology. Go to http://www.intuitivesurgical.com/corporate/newsroom/videos/da_vinci_s_hd_technical_owv.aspx
for a detailed look at daVinci®!
For more information
on any of these educational opportunities or to add your name to our contact
list, email Pat Wolf at pwolf@wpahs.org or phone at (412) 359-6491.
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