Science, with practice

Mike Zeller

Fifteen middle and high school teachers from across Iowa are getting hands-on experience this week that will translate to their own classrooms. ISU's Office of Biotechnology is offering three June workshops that enhance STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) curriculums in schools and youth programs.

This week's focus is on biotechnology, with a CSI twist. Participants are learning lab activities such as DNA extraction, processing and analysis. Pictured is a "DNA fingerprinting" exercise, led by biotechnology outreach education coordinator Mike Zeller (right).

A bioethics workshop will be held next week and an advanced biotechnology course is scheduled the following week. Educators can earn professional development and graduate credits during the four-day workshops, and are eligible to receive free materials for their classrooms. Photo by Bob Elbert.