Listed below are some summer opportunities that you might find interesting.
Student Opportunities
Briarwood 2008 Science Works
Creating Student Investigators PD
This a professional development opportunity for 7 - 12 grade teachers. Although we are based in Arkansas, we are recruiting from surrounding states, and would love to have teachers from MS participate, as parts of MS are certainly within driving distance to ASU. The workshop is free to teachers- and in fact pays them a stipend and graduate credit, as it is a grant supported endeavor.
Summer Workshops at VCU
Forensics
DNA, Drugs, and the Law, July 21-25, 2008. Taught by Mason Byrd, Esq., Dr. Tracey Dawson-Cruz, and Dr. Michelle Peace. Learn the scientific principles that are key to DNA and toxicological analyses in the crime laboratory as well as the application of legal principles to forensic evidence. Use hands-on laboratory methods in both DNA and toxicology to learn test procedures used in crime labs.
The Science at a Crime Scene: Finding Evidence To Give It a Voice, July 28 - August 1, 2008. Taught by practitioners from the VA Dept. of Forensic Science Central Crime Laboratory, Henrico Police Dept., and VCU faculty. A new course on the science and art of crime scene processing, evidence handling, and scene reconstruction. Topics include entomology, latent prints, bloodstain analysis, and crime scene sketching/photography. Lectures and hands-on labs, mock crime scenes, and an entomological recovery scene.
Entomology
Entomology: Terrestrial and Aquatic Insects, July 7-11, 2008. Taught by Dr. Arthur Evans, Entomologist, VA Department of Conservation & Recreation's Natural Heritage Program, and Anne Wright, VCU. Insect species ... they outnumber us 900,000 to one. Capture insects on land and in water, identify them, learn how to keep them alive in the classroom, and make a collection to take home.
River Studies
Rivers and Tributaries: Sustaining Their Future, June 23-27, 2008. Taught by Anne Wright, VCU and Ralph White, Richmond Parks. Join us for a week of outdoor learning in and around the James River that addresses the sustainability of our local water resources. Geology, hydrology and human activity all greatly impact the ecology and quality of the James and its tributaries. Funded in part by Alcoa. Financial assistance may be available.
Meteorology
Weather and Climate, July 14-18, 2008. Taught by Dr. Vickie Connors, VCU. Learn about current research on weather, forecasting, air quality and climate. Participate in field trips, hear expert speakers, and discover NOAA and NASA resources.
Biotechnology/Lab Techniques
Biotechnology I, June 23-27, 2008. Theory and hands-on activities for middle school, high school, and junior college instructors new to teaching biotechnology, genetics and molecular biology. Taught by Drs. Eggleston & Chinnici, VCU, Deborah Neely-Fisher, JSRCC, Kristen Householder, Hanover, and Sharon Entwhistle, Chesterfield. Course goal is to help teachers new to teaching biotechnology-related courses. Emphasis on developing course objectives/curricula; identifying and ordering supplies/equipment; laboratory safety; proper use of equipment; sterile technique; dilutions; pipetting; electrophoresis; spectrophotometry; standard curves and more.
Biotechnology II, July 7-11, 2008. Theory and hands-on activities for high school and junior college instructors with some experience teaching Genetics and Molecular Biology. Taught by Drs. Eggleston and Chinnici, VCU, Deborah Neely-Fisher, J. Sargeant Reynolds, Kristen Householder, Hanover Co., VA Public Schools, and Sharon Entwhistle, Chesterfield Co., VA, Public Schools. Course goal is to help moderately experienced instructors enhance their proficiency level and to identifyand develop new ideas, resources and exercises to meet their teaching goals in genetics and molecular biology. Emphasis on enhancing the knowledge of sterile technique, dilutions, pipetting, DNA and protein purification, electrophoresis, spectrophotometry, standard curves, recombinant DNA technology, PCR and more.
Genetics
All in the Family: Genes and Your Health, June 23-27, 2008. A new course using a case-based approach to genetics and family history - common variation, genetic disorders, and ethical, legal and social implications of genetic testing. Taught by the faculty of the Department of Human Genetics, VCU. Funded in part by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Financial assistance may be available. Mark your calendar now! For more information and to register online, go to www.vcu.edu/workshops. Or contact Dr. Dick Rezba at (804) 828-1334 (rjrezba@vcu.edu) or Ed Howard at (804) 828-8819 (eahoward@vcu.edu).
Modeling Disease Progress Over Time
http://www.apsnet.org/education/advancedplantpath/topics/Rmodules/Doc1/Understanding how disease levels increase or decrease over time is one of the most basic elements of plant disease epidemiology and ecology. For example, comparisons between patterns of disease progress for different diseases, cultivars, management strategies, or environmental settings can help in determining how plant diseases may best be managed. These investigations present and illustrate the mathematical and biological basis of disease progress over time. Using published data students can learn how to use R, freely available from http://www.cran.r-project.org/, to illustrate disease progress over time for different systems and gain a better understanding of how factors interact to cause disease.
Human Exploration Project Engineering Design Challenge
In anticipation of the need for research into lunar plant growth, NASA and ITEA present the NASA Engineering Design Challenge. Students design, build, and evaluate lunar plant growth chambers while engaging in research and standards-based learning experiences. Students participate in the engineering design process and learn how to design and conduct a scientific experiment.
Teacher Opportunities
Teacher Training In the Physical Sciences 2008
Earth's History: Interactions Between Life and the Environment (Part 1)
http://teachscience.psu.edu/June 22-27, 2008
Educators will develop an appreciation for the rate of climate change and biodiversity loss today through a study of the coevolution of Earth and life through geologic time. Discuss the latest theories of Earth history with leading experts in geochemistry, geology, and paleobiology.
Evolution: How Important Is It to a Good Science Education?
http://teachscience.psu.edu/July 13-18, 2008
Scientists and educators from diverse disciplines will discuss the central role of evolutionary theory in their fields, the scientific evidence supporting evolution, provide examples from their own research, and share activities to facilitate the teaching of evolution and the nature of science in the middle and high school classroom.
myPlantIT Summer Institute for Teachers
http://www.myplantit.org/teachers.phpJuly 7-18, 2008
Join us on the Texas A&M University College Station campus to explore contemporary plant biology problems and career connections featuring the technology that supports modern plant science.
Celest Curriculum Summer Workshop, Summer 2008
http://cns.bu.edu/celest/education/summer.htmlThe Center of Excellence for Learning in Education, Science, and Technology (CELEST) is a National Science Foundation-funded Science of Learning Center. As part of its education mission, CELEST has been developing and field-testing curriculum modules that explore mind and brain. The Summer 2008 Workshop will run from July 7-18, 2008 at Boston University. It is open to middle, high school, and undergraduate faculty from across the U.S.