|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
University of Alabama School of Medicine
Outcomes, Challenges, and Resources
Outcomes
- 1. BioTeach has been adopted as the teacher training course for high school biology teachers in the BCS.
- 2. HHMI funded programs, BioTeach, now serve as the foundation for science education partnerships between UAB, McWane and the BCS.
- 3. BioTeach and its implementation programs- GENEius and BioTeach Classroom modules have impacted on thousands of Alabama high school students.
Challenges
- Turn over in upper administration at McWane, UAB and BCS. It is rare that some many have left (or will leave) in such a short period of time. A university president, museum CEO and school superintendent. Probably no way to prepare adequately. We have worked closely with the Board of Education so they understand the impact of our partnership, UAB deans to insure continuity and the trustees at McWane to help smooth the transition.
- Space for programs on the UAB campus. The Center for Community Outreach Development provides much of the support structure for our science outreach programs. Since 1998 this university wide center has been the home for BioTeach and GENEius staff and students. This year the building housing CORD will be torn down to make way for a new research tower. Exciting times but disruptive. We has spent the last 8 months designing and now supervising the renovation of 12,000sq ft (4 times our existing space) for outreach offices, labs and conference rooms. This will give us the opportunity to grow based of securing new extramural and state funding.
- Recruitment of new, well trained and motivated staff to fill important positions in BioTeach, GENEius and other outreach programs. Largely we are doing this through the development of outreach postdoctoral positions. We have a good group of graduate students who have worked with the programs part time during their tenure as graduate students and now want to try it full time for a year or two.
Resources
- CORD Web site. This site is underdevelopment but provides a comprehensive description of outreach programs from the Center. www.uab.edu/cord
- X-philes Lab. Laboratory on extremophiles. Day long laboratory at the McWane center for high school students.
- HIV GENEius lab. Day long laboratory at the GENEius lab for high school students.
Back to University of Alabama School of Medicine
|
|
| | |
