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Educators in Triangle land Biotech Center grants

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RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. – Biotech continues to grow at creative North Carolina classrooms and labs, thanks to Educational Enhancement Grants (EEGs) from the North Carolina Biotechnology Center.

The non-profit organization’s latest statewide round of 14 EEGs, totaling nearly $423,000, includes four to institutions in the Triangle.

The grant program supports the design and implementation of biotechnology education programs at K-12 schools, school systems, community colleges, private colleges, universities, and museums. It doesn't support building projects, but the grant funding is sometimes used for equipment.

The regional institutions and their recent grants include:

• $66,926 to Scott Johnson at Wake Tech Community College for a biotechnology lab enhancement project.
• $55,200 to Paul Hamilton, Ph.D., to develop a new industry-style laboratory course in N.C. State University's Professional Science Master's in Microbial Biotechnology program.
• $38,000 to Suzanne Wilkison at the North Carolina Association for Biomedical Research for developing a video on biotechnology careers targeting students in grades 6 through 12.
• $20,000 to Roger Narayan, Ph.D., to develop a nanobiotechnology graduate certificate program in the Department of Biomedical Engineering operated jointly by UNC-Chapel Hill and N.C. State.

"These grants highlight the creativity and diversity of educators across the state as they help students find new ways to engage in the life sciences," said Kathleen Kennedy, Ph.D., vice president of education and training programs for the Biotechnology Center.

With this latest round of awards, the Biotechnology Center has provided a total of $6 million to educational institutions across the state - funding that goes directly into the classroom to help students learn about the opportunities in biotechnology and expand the knowledge base of North Carolina’s workforce.

The Biotechnology Center has distributed 191 total awards since the program began in 1991.

The Biotechnology Center will issue its next round of EEGs for the 2010-2011 fiscal year on Feb. 1. They'll be drawn from the most compelling applications from educators who have been invited to apply, based on pre-proposals they've already submitted for review to the Biotech Center.

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STEM Education

STEM News is generated through a collaborative effort between the NC STEM Community Collaborative, MCNC, and WRAL Tech Wire. To submit story ideas, please email WTW Editor Rick Smith rsmith@wral.com or Noah Garrett noah@thinkngc.com. Read more articles…