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MassBioEd highlights growth, programs in 2009 annual report
March 4, 2010 |
The MassBioEd Foundation, whose mission is to support science and biotechnology education in Massachusetts through school programs, workforce training, and lifelong learning, released its 2009 report in which it highlighted the nearly $3 million in equipment supplies and consumables awarded to 177 public high schools enrolled in the BioTeach program since its inception.
Although state funding for the BioTeach program concluded in December, it continues to expand across the board in courses offered including Biotechnology 1 & 2, Forensics and others in its member schools.
The resources provided through the Foundation’s efforts reached over 26,000 students in the Massachusetts public school system thanks to nearly 500 science teachers receiving biotechnology training since 2006.
The report highlights new endeavors by the Foundation including the creation of the Massachusetts Life Science Education Consortium (MLSEC). Some of the chief contributions by the MLSEC to the biotech industry and educators in 2009 were the opportunity to discuss curriculum development, program design and the need to increase availability of co-ops and internships.
Also mentioned in the report were the Biotech Learning Center’s 180 participants from 95 different companies that took part in at least one of the six courses offered in 2009. The courses covered improving biotech presentation skills, leadership training programs for scientists and an overview of clinical research among others. A full list of courses offered in 2010 is available at MassBioEd.org/courses.
MassBioEd Executive Director Lance Hartford said he is encouraged by the progress the foundation has made over the past year.
“It’s very heartening to see the growth MassBioEd has demonstrated in the face of the many challenges we’ve seen over the past year,” he said. “We remain positive that our corporate partners will continue to show their generosity as we strive to achieve our goal of strengthening the availability of biotechnology resources to our students.”
Due to decreased funding for its programs, MassBioEd is asking corporate partners to contribute via financial backing, offering job shadow experiences and speaker visits and participating in an education task force.
Major sponsors recognized in the report were AstraZeneca R&D Boston, Biogen Idec, Cubist, EMD Serono, Formatech, Inc., Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company, Millipore and MassBio.
The full report is available online at http://www.massbioed.org/downloads/pdf/MassBioEd%202009%20Annual%20Report.pdf.
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