The Aha! Moment

In August of 2012, Bio-Rad launched the Science Ambassador program, a corporate responsibility initiative fostering hands-on life science education. The program links interested scientists with interested nearby teachers through a simple website, so that the scientists can visit classrooms to conduct an exciting, one-hour DNA extraction lab. Bio-Rad facilitates these connections and supplies the scientists with free Genes in a Bottle™ DNA kits for up to 36 students per class, as well as easy-to-follow lesson plans.

In under a year’s time, the program has already made significant progress. Nearly 300 scientists and 300 teachers across the U.S. and Canada have signed up. And, in the single most important measure, more than 5,500 students (plus one big city mayor) have had the program’s signature lab experience: an up-close and personal encounter with their own DNA.

Read more…

OpenWorm: An open-source C. elegans nematode simulation

OpenWorm aims to build the first comprehensive computational model of the Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans), a microscopic roundworm. With only a thousand cells, it solves basic problems such as feeding, mate-finding and predator avoidance. Despite being extremely well studied in biology, this organism still eludes a deep, principled understanding of its biology.
Find out more at www.openworm.org

The C. elegans Behavior Kit allows students to work with and learn about C. elegans, one of the most studied model organisms and the first multicellular organism to have its complete genome sequenced.

Key Features and Benefits

With this kit, students are able to:

• Get hands-on experience with a model eukaryotic organism
• Observe and study the life cycle of C. elegans
• Utilize their microscope skills
• Learn how to subculture
• Learn about genetics and its effect on behavior
• Discover the connection between learning, the daf-18 gene, and the AIY and ASE neurons

For more information visit http://www.bio-rad.com/yt/8/bioed

A Lesson in SDS PAGE

4,000 words worth of pictures

Yesterday we told you about Karen Walker, the teacher that was awarded the 2012 Bio-Rad Biotechnology Explorer mini grant.

Here are some pictures of Ms. Walker’s science class. If a picture is worth 1,000 words, these pictures write a beautiful essay!

Want to see your class this engaged in science? Be sure to stay tuned to the Canadian Biotechnologist for the Bio-Rad Laboratories Canada 2012/2013 Biotechnology Explorer Mini Grant Application Announcement.

Science Teacher Karen Walker Awarded 2012 Biotechnology Explorer Mini Grant

The Canadian Biotechnologist and Bio-Rad Laboratories Canada congratulate Karen Walker, science teacher at the Earl of March Secondary School in Kanata, Ontario, on being awarded the 2012 Biotechnology Explorer Mini Grant.

In the words of her department head, Sherry Lee:

Ms. Walker is committed to stimulating student interest in genomic, is a leader in biotechnology education and has sought professional development opportunities and implemented innovative instructional strategies related to genomics since she became a staff member in 2004.

Ms Walker has been awarded $2000 worth of Bio-Rad products which she will be using to implement a Biotechnology course at the Earl of March Secondary School.

Check back with the Canadian Biotechnologist to learn how to participate in the next Biotechnology Explorer Mini Grant competition for the upcoming 2012/2013 school year.