The "Biotechnology Workshop for Teachers" will provide 60 biology, chemistry and general science precollege teachers an opportunity to study the basic principles of biotechnology as developed in the past ten years. Specifically this will build the confidence of the participant teachers in the area of biotechnology by updating their knowledge through "hands-on" laboratory participation, providing opportunities to develop laboratory/lecture materials, and learning to use specially prepared molecular biology kits that will be made available to their high school students. The six-week summer workshop will be held at Georgetown University and will include opportunities for independent research and informal discussions on data analysis and experimental design. The long term goals of this project are first to initiate the training of 60 high school teachers within a 50-mile radius of the Washington, DC Metropolitan area and later to expand this program over a wider area for a broader impact. Another major goal is to develop, in conjunction with private industry, the necessary reagents critical to study areas of biotechnology. Teachers who show promise of being catalytic focal points in their respective school systems and of having the skills to incorporate the materials in the classrooms and school districts will be selected for this workshop. Follow-up and evaluation procedures by the PI will continue to provide help for the teachers within their classrooms and in their roles as resource persons.
