MassBioEd is launching the COVID Response Mini-Grant Program supported by Thermo Fisher Scientific to help facilitate hands-on life science lessons during these difficult times. This program will provide middle and high school teachers in the New England area with equipment or lab consumables purchased from Fisher Scientific that support life sciences laboratory activities conducted either in person or remotely.

The COVID Response Mini-Grant Program is open to educators who have attended a BioTeach workshop at any time since January 2018. Priority will be given to under-served public schools, but any educator is welcome to apply. There are limited funds and therefore a short window of opportunity to apply. The average grant award will be up to $1,000 worth of equipment and supplies ordered by MassBioEd from Fisher Scientific and delivered to the school. There is a limit of one grant per school.

All applications will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Teacher involvement in workshops: Attendance at a BioTeach workshop within the last 2 years by the primary teacher applicant is required.
• School demographics: Priority will be given to public middle and high schools that are under-served or economically disadvantaged (as classified by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, or an equivalent state body).
• Proposed activities or laboratories must be: clearly described and relevant to life sciences.
• Which class(es) will benefit from the grant and how many students are enrolled in each class listed?

Before your application can be considered, you must complete the online application, including a description of your proposed lab(s) and activities and a brief explanation of how the requested items will help you engage students. Please provide as much detail as possible when answering the application questions. Direct any questions to BioTeach@massbioed.org.

The MassBioEd COVID Response Mini-Grant Program for 2021 accepts applications on a rolling basis.