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The Partnership for Cancer Research Education is designed to help middle and high school students understand science by participating in cancer research through the four programs described below.
1. CancerWeb - a user-friendly, interactive web site, provides easy access to the following interlinked sections:
A. What Is Cancer? - animated presentations that introduce cancer at the level of the body, the cell, and then genes, including information on causes, treatments and prevention.
B. What's New in Cancer? - simple descriptions of current cancer research at Fox Chase.
C. Virtual Research - allows students to practice inquiry skills as they "think their way" step-by-step through real research experiments.
D. Cancer Careers - describes the wide variety of careers associated with cancer and provides information on preparing for each career.
CancerWeb is useful for all students and the public, but it is designed to attract students who might not otherwise be exposed to current science.
2. Class Research Program - provides a large number of students in all levels of middle and high school science classes with an active research experience. A teacher works with a scientist partner at Fox Chase to develop an open-ended project that involves a whole class in the scientist's research. The students learn science information and inquiry skills as they ask questions, do experiments, analyze data and draw conclusions over the course of a school year. Partners stay in close contact through classroom visits, lab visits, and by email. The project runs the entire school year and ends with the students presenting their work to their peers or the community.
3. Student Scientist Program - offers high school students with strong ability and interest in science an intensive research experience. Twelve Student Scientists each year work on individual research projects with a scientist mentor. Students present their work orally to their peers during the school year and give a final poster session at Fox Chase. Most students enter local science fair competitions and some are published.
4. Teacher Professional Development -Teachers learn science content through lectures, lab meetings, reading, and discussion with their scientist partner and the Program Director. They improve their inquiry and technical skills by doing summer research in the partner scientist's lab. They are also exposed to the work of other teacher-scientist partners through meetings and discussions.
Since 1999, program participants have shown a significant improvement in their science inquiry skills, attitude towards science, science content knowledge, and in adding the choice of science as a career interest. Fifty-two Student Scientists and over 900 class research students from 20 schools have participated with 43 Fox Chase scientists (49% of all the labs!). Students' work has resulted in fifty-two first place awards at science fairs, five peer-reviewed publications, three presentations at national meetings, and preliminary data that resulted in a funded grant. Fifty-nine percent of students and their mentors have continued working together after their required year of research.
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