By: Nancy L. Stake

Date: 09/01/2003

The Santa Clara County Biotechnology Education Partnership in the Department of Chemistry recently hosted 30 teachers from 19 public and private middle schools, high schools and a community college for a week of biotechnology curricula and laboratory training, reports Katy Korsmeyer, program director for SCCBEP.

"SJSU trains teachers in biotechnology techniques so that they can use our equipment, obtain supplies and reagents from us to implement the labs in their classes," says Korsmeyer. "Teachers are also not normally taught these techniques in their credential programs.

Biotech equipment and consumables are very expensive and schools can’t provide the funds to purchase them," she adds. The SCCBEP is also working with some schools in Monterey, Santa Cruz, Salinas and San Benito.

Contact Katy Korsmeyer at kuokaty@science.sjsu.edu.

See www.babec.org/SCCBEP.