Massachusetts Biotechnology Council's Education Foundation Receives $1.4 Million Federal Grant to Launch Ambitious BioTeach Initiative
Massachusetts Biotechnology Council's Education Foundation Receives $1.4 Million Federal Grant to Launch Ambitious BioTeach Initiative
Wednesday September 15, 2:30 pm ET
$8 Million 'BioTeach' Campaign to Equip All MA Public High Schools with Lab Equipment and Biotech Teacher Training by 2010
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Sept. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- The Massachusetts Biotechnology Council (MBC) through the Massachusetts Biotechnology Education Foundation (MassBioEd) today announced the official launch of its BioTeach campaign. The campaign kicks off today at Brighton High School with the presentation of a $1.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor. This grant will aid MassBioEd in its goal of providing Massachusetts high school students with biotechnology lab experience by offering school equipment and ongoing supplies, teacher training and career development activities. BioTeach seeks to make this offer to all 366 public high schools in Massachusetts over the next six years.
"Biotech jobs are a source of strength for our Massachusetts economy. Our administration has created new incentives to encourage the industry to grow and expand here, and now we are going to engage and motivate our young people to get the training they need to fill these good-paying jobs," said Governor Mitt Romney.
The BioTeach initiative seeks to offer the following to all MA public high schools by 2010:
Funding for new equipment to update science labs for biotechnology
Annual matching funds for replenishment of supplies and maintenance for sustainability
Ongoing teacher training that keeps pace with biotech discovery
School-to-career pathways in partnership with local colleges and Workforce Investment Boards
"Golden Helix" certification status by meeting industry-defined standards
"Biotechnology has the potential, like the space program in the 1960's, to stimulate an entire generation of science thinkers and enthusiasts," said Mark Trusheim, interim president, MBC. "Industry together with schools, government and community-based organizations, can inspire a generation who in turn, will create tomorrow's cures and new jobs."
BioTeach is an expansion of a MassBioEd initiative that began five years ago through corporate sponsorships and private funds. To date, 37 public high schools have improved their students' science labs through sorely needed equipment as a result of the funds raised.
"In 2003 alone, 19 schools received funding allowing trained teachers to offer exciting biotech lab experiences to nearly 2,500 students," said Cora- Beth Abel, Vice President, MassBioEd. "In addition to the private funds raised and corporate sponsorships, this federal grant will allow us to focus on schools in urban and high-needs communities where many high schools have only 'paper and pencil' labs."
BioTeach, by dynamic teaching of biotechnology, will spark student interest in science and so help fuel the biotech workforce pipeline.
"MassBioEd grant money has enabled public schools like Brighton High School to update their laboratory materials to keep up with the constantly evolving field of biotechnology. By exposing students to biotechnology methods, skills and issues, students are inspired to participate in advanced science courses, to explore careers in biomedical science, and to consider the impact of scientific discoveries on society," said Kenneth Salim, former biology teacher, Brighton High School.
MassBioEd and the MBC will continue to aggressively pursue corporate sponsorships, continue to host a successful annual golf tournament and illicit private funds in order to reach the $8 million campaign goal.
If companies are interested in sponsoring a local high school or participating in upcoming MassBioEd fundraising events />--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: The Massachusetts Biotechnology Council (MBC)
Wednesday September 15, 2:30 pm ET
$8 Million 'BioTeach' Campaign to Equip All MA Public High Schools with Lab Equipment and Biotech Teacher Training by 2010
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Sept. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- The Massachusetts Biotechnology Council (MBC) through the Massachusetts Biotechnology Education Foundation (MassBioEd) today announced the official launch of its BioTeach campaign. The campaign kicks off today at Brighton High School with the presentation of a $1.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor. This grant will aid MassBioEd in its goal of providing Massachusetts high school students with biotechnology lab experience by offering school equipment and ongoing supplies, teacher training and career development activities. BioTeach seeks to make this offer to all 366 public high schools in Massachusetts over the next six years.
"Biotech jobs are a source of strength for our Massachusetts economy. Our administration has created new incentives to encourage the industry to grow and expand here, and now we are going to engage and motivate our young people to get the training they need to fill these good-paying jobs," said Governor Mitt Romney.
The BioTeach initiative seeks to offer the following to all MA public high schools by 2010:
Funding for new equipment to update science labs for biotechnology
Annual matching funds for replenishment of supplies and maintenance for sustainability
Ongoing teacher training that keeps pace with biotech discovery
School-to-career pathways in partnership with local colleges and Workforce Investment Boards
"Golden Helix" certification status by meeting industry-defined standards
"Biotechnology has the potential, like the space program in the 1960's, to stimulate an entire generation of science thinkers and enthusiasts," said Mark Trusheim, interim president, MBC. "Industry together with schools, government and community-based organizations, can inspire a generation who in turn, will create tomorrow's cures and new jobs."
BioTeach is an expansion of a MassBioEd initiative that began five years ago through corporate sponsorships and private funds. To date, 37 public high schools have improved their students' science labs through sorely needed equipment as a result of the funds raised.
"In 2003 alone, 19 schools received funding allowing trained teachers to offer exciting biotech lab experiences to nearly 2,500 students," said Cora- Beth Abel, Vice President, MassBioEd. "In addition to the private funds raised and corporate sponsorships, this federal grant will allow us to focus on schools in urban and high-needs communities where many high schools have only 'paper and pencil' labs."
BioTeach, by dynamic teaching of biotechnology, will spark student interest in science and so help fuel the biotech workforce pipeline.
"MassBioEd grant money has enabled public schools like Brighton High School to update their laboratory materials to keep up with the constantly evolving field of biotechnology. By exposing students to biotechnology methods, skills and issues, students are inspired to participate in advanced science courses, to explore careers in biomedical science, and to consider the impact of scientific discoveries on society," said Kenneth Salim, former biology teacher, Brighton High School.
MassBioEd and the MBC will continue to aggressively pursue corporate sponsorships, continue to host a successful annual golf tournament and illicit private funds in order to reach the $8 million campaign goal.
If companies are interested in sponsoring a local high school or participating in upcoming MassBioEd fundraising events />--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: The Massachusetts Biotechnology Council (MBC)
