Project Related:

Educational Resources

  • Student Programs

    Grade: 11
    Resource: student programs on science, technology, engineering, math careers

BioQuest Academy: Creating an innovative immersion program for teens

Grant Code: R25RR024260

Funding Years: 02/01/2008 - 01/31/2011

Institution: Seattle Biomedical Research Institute

Department:

Address:
307 Westlake Ave N, Suite 500
Seattle, WA, 98109

PI:
BRITSCHGI, THERESA,
Phone: (206) 256-7473
Fax: (206) 256-7229
Email: theresa.britschgi@sbri.org

OTHER CONTACT:
GERVASSI, ANA,
Phone: (206) 256-7321
Fax: (206) 256-7229
Email: ana.gervassi@sbri.org

URL: http://www.sbribioquest.org
Audience

Most directly, high School juniors and their families, teachers and student peers. Through the development of a project wiki community and related online media, the project willindirectly deliver new engaging curriculum and communication tools related to project content areas to a larger local and national audience with.

Subjects Addressed

Infectious diseases, biomedical research, global health policy, science careers and college pathways.

Project Description

1) To refine a successful pilot science immersion program into a model program, with the help of project advisors, whereby students are ably supported in their progression towards science, technology, engineering and math careers (STEM). 2) To successfully engage students and promote greater cohort interest and competence in science and biomedical research topics and careers, via new instructional tools and tactics - both online and in SBRI-s dedicated learning laboratory (BioQuest Discovery Lab). 3) To develop a supportive learning community for program participants, critical to the attraction of a more diversified cohort; and subsequently the development of a more diversified research workforce. 4) To disseminate investigation outcomes and innovative instructional resources to a global online audience via the BioQuest Virtual Researcher website (BVR).

Resources for Sharing

1) Ethically, culturally and racially savvy and appropriate recruitment tools used in 2008 to enroll a more diverse student cohort (example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAAMaX7q8_0) 2) New student-tested, draft wet-lab curriculum, including: a) Evaluating potential HIV vaccine targets, using immunological tools; b) Exploring the impact of Plasmodium diversity on developing new malaria vaccines; and, c) Investigating African trypanosomiasis drug development through gene expression research. 3) Experience using teens as curriculum consultants/interns for new curriculum (see above). 4) Draft BVR concepts and themes - including team research on current popular tools (e.g., Second Life, Facebook and IM texting) and contemporary research findings on teen media use.

Dissemination Strategies

1) Draft BVR plans, 2) Draft tactics for in-school activities (summer -08 Academy students serve as hosts), 3) Portland, OR 2008 NSTA conference curriculum

Abstract

This application outlines Seattle Biomedical Research Institute's (SBRI) investigation of the impact of an innovative science immersion program called the BioQuest Academy (BQA). The investigation builds upon a 2-year pilot program and its documented results. SBRI seeks Phase I and Phase II funding support from the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR) to amplify prior success with 58 participating 11th grade high school students from socio-economically and ethnically varied Washington state communities. The proposed 5-year research project will strategically expand the proven pilot BQA-resulting in greater understanding of the best practices for a science immersion program with a biomedical focus; delivering new print and online resources for a local and national audience; and providing direct benefits for the 180 participating teens from a spectrum of communities. Designed with a goal to provide young adults who demonstrate science predilection with access to authentic biomedical research, thereby promoting confidence and skills early in their scientific career pathways, the pilot BQA responds to the published concerns regarding national trends in science; and the mounting anxiety regarding the lack of real world, career-preparative experiences for youth. The proposed 5-year investigation responds to published recommendations for after-school programs, the desires most frequently expressed by pilot BQA graduates for longer sessions and enduring contact with SBRI: Foremost BQA will foster science career interest. SBRI is poised to take a significant role in increasing public understanding of how the life sciences can have a direct, positive impact on lives around the world, while illuminating the science that underlies SBRI's mission to eliminate the world's most devastating infectious diseases through leadership in scientific discovery. With National Center for Research Resource's investment in a strategically expanded BQA, SBRI can demonstrate to tomorrows leaders, firsthand, how they personally can change the world for the better through scientific research.

Keywords

biomedical research, infectious diseases, careers, mentor, science wiki community

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