High School Teacher Genomics Workshops

Summer Workshop 2013

Genomics for your Classroom:  Training for High School Teachers

Genomics extends genetics by using techniques that study all of the genes in a genome simultaneously in order to understand how genetic materials interact with other genetic and environmental factors to make organisms what they are. Since the human genome was sequenced in 2003, genomics has made huge advances in its contribution to our understanding of biology and biomedicine.  Now genomics-based science is in the news every week, if not every day. Genomics is changing very real and important things in our society, including the way diseases are being diagnosed and treated. For students to understand the biology of today (and of tomorrow), they will need some background in genomics.

The Penn Genome Frontiers Institute (PGFI) is offering a five-day genomics workshop for Philadelphia-area teachers on July 22-26, 2013. The workshop will cover content and activities developed by a team of teachers and PGFI scientists. Workshop activities will include attending seminars and discussions with leading genomics researchers, working through wet and dry genomics lab activities, and visiting genomics research labs at the University of Pennsylvania. The workshop will be led by PGFI faculty and staff and one of the curriculum developers (an experienced high school teacher and administrator). Participants will leave the workshop ready to teach genomics in their own classrooms. Post-workshop classroom support includes access to an equipment loaner program and curriculum troubleshooting. Participants will be encouraged to become active members of the PGFI-hosted genomics educators’ virtual community.

Dates: Monday, July 22 – Friday, July 26, 2013, 9-5 PM
Location: Penn Genome Frontiers Institute, 433 S. University Ave., Philadelphia PA 19104
Cost: Free
Stipend: $300
Act 48 hours: 35
Applications: Accepted March 1-April 15, 2013. Accepted participants will be notified by April 30.

Application components:
- Completed application form (download form, .doc)
- Resume (.pdf or .doc)
- One letter of recommendation

All components of your application need to be received by PGFI by 5 PM, April 15, 2013. Materials should be emailed to Kristin Field, PhD (kfield[at]sas.upenn.edu). Note that your letter of recommendation should be emailed directly to PGFI by your recommender.

This project is generously supported by the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations. Read more about this project here.