Summer Workshop Opportunity!

INVESTIGATING THE EFFECTS OF GENES AND ENVIRONMENT ON SMOKING BEHAVIOR SUMMER WORKSHOP FOR HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS

July 14 - 18, 2008

University of Washington Department of Genome Sciences Education Outreach will host a weeklong summer workshop to introduce teachers to our new curriculum, "StarNet: Investigating the Effects of Genes and Environment on Smoking Behavior." Developed by a team of teachers, scientists, and outreach staff, the new curriculum involves high school students and teachers in doing authentic genetic research and considering related bioethical issues.

The Investigating Smoking Behavior curriculum places high school students in the role of scientists as they conduct authentic research on the effects of genes and environment on smoking behavior. Data gathered and analyzed by students may lead to new insights into the causes of nicotine addiction and influences on smoking behavior. We invite you to join us this summer in learning to use this new curriculum in your classrooms!

ELIGIBILITY
High school teachers of second year biology courses are ideal candidates for this workshop because the curriculum that will be presented is most appropriate for high school students enrolled in courses like Advanced Biology, Biotechnology, Genetics, etc. The curriculum requires three weeks of classroom time. Community college instructors are also welcome to attend. High school teachers of introductory biology may also be able to use this curriculum if their students have completed the prerequisite topics: DNA and gene structure; transcription; translation; genetics; mutation.

PROGRAM
The workshop will cover the Investigating Smoking Behavior curriculum in depth, including laboratory activities and bioethics. The laboratory component focuses on genotyping the DNA of human research subjects, both smokers and non-smokers. Reverse dot blots--similar to large microarrays--are the lab assay used for genotyping. More information on the curriculum is available at http://hshgp.genome.washington.edu/workshop.

STIPEND, CREDITS, AND CLOCK HOURS
Teachers completing the workshop will receive a $350 stipend. 40 WSTA clock hours or 3 UW graduate credits are available at the teacher’s expense. Teachers must attend all five days and complete all homework assignments in order to receive stipend, clock hours, and credits

OTHER BENEFITS
Workshop participants will receive a course notebook containing the entire Investigating Smoking Behavior curriculum and will become eligible to borrow equipment kits containing the laboratory reagents and materials needed to carry out the lab component of the curriculum. Teachers must travel to the UW campus in Seattle to pick up and return the kits. Beginning in Fall 2008, teachers from Eastern Washington also have the option of traveling to Grandview (between Yakima and Tri-Cities) to borrow a kit.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Registration forms must be received by May 9, 2008. FAXed applications cannot be accepted. Registration forms can be downloaded from http://hshgp.genome.washington.edu/workshop.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
Call Megan Brown or Maureen Munn at 206-616-4538 or send e-mail to mtbrown@u.washington.edu.