Lab offers mobile science projects to area schools

Thanks to a grant from the Helios Foundation, science teachers in Yuma can have science labs and teacher resources in their classroom at no cost to their school.

The University of Arizona Jr. Biotech Project resource center is housed in Arizona Western College's AS building program and project coordinator Alyssa Haygood explained that they transport all the equipment and supplies to junior high and high school classrooms.

Through the Jr. Biotech Project's partnerships, teachers can acquire the expertise to use biotechnology in the classroom to investigate real world problems, officials said in news release.

There is also an opportunity for teachers to receive professional development and possibly a stipend for participating through the project.

Although this program began last year, Haygood said, “We sent out a survey to all the teachers about the program and they had said they had never even heard of it so we're trying to get them to know who we are and let them know we're available to them.”

So far, the center has worked with about 12 teachers in the Yuma area, mostly in the Crane Elementary School District, but is looking to expand to reach more teachers and students.

“There's such an emphasis on STEM – science and technology and engineering and mathematics – trying to get them all integrated and we're a valuable resource for that,” she said, noting that the center is in the process of applying for another grant to include more engineering and mathematics concepts to its program.

“We are teaching the students about genetics and what DNA is and how people are actually using it. You see it on TV all the time when you watch shows like CSI but never really understand what they're doing, so we just fill in those blanks and help get students interested in science.”

Haygood noted that the labs are fairly easy to understand and are great at engaging students in addition to helping kids to understand and comprehend the material they are learning in their classes.

She added that she also stays with the classes during the day labs are implemented to make sure there are no issues and teachers are comfortable with teaching the material.

Haygood said one of the more popular labs they do with classes is the “Kiwi DNA Extraction” experiment where students learn about the chemical and physical properties of DNA as well as about cell structure and biological macromolecules.

“We offer something different, we offer something (students have) never seen before... by the time they get to high school they are a little bit more prepared and they understand DNA a little bit better and then when they get to college they actually get to use this equipment again.”

Science teachers should contact Haygood at alyssahaygood@email.arizona.edu or call 317-6069 to schedule an informational session to learn more about the Jr. Biotech Project.

Visit http://biotech.bio5.org to view various lab descriptions and for more information about the program.

Sarah Womer can be reached at swomer@yumasun.com or 539-6858. Find her on Facebook at Facebook.com/YSSarahWomer or on Twitter at @YSSarahWomer.