Newswise — As part of its effort to promote excellence in K-12 science education, The American Physiological Society (APS) awarded its 2006 Frontiers in Physiology Professional Development Fellowships to 20 middle and high school teachers in 12 states and the District of Columbia.
The Frontiers in Physiology program pairs each teacher/fellow with a researcher who is a member of APS. This year, 19 researchers will host and mentor the winning teachers for a summer of in-depth scientific research, giving them laboratory research experience and the chance to become part of a laboratory team.
The teachers learn research techniques and follow the scientific process from start to finish. As a result, they gain a greater understanding of science, something they can pass along to their own students. The teachers also will engage in a full year of professional development activities and will learn effective education strategies to help them translate their research experience into classroom lessons.
Listed by the teacher's school, the 2006 Frontiers in Physiology research teachers and their host institutions and mentors are as follows:
Academies @ Englewood, Dwight Morrow Campus, Englewood, NJ - Claire KennedyNovartis Institutes for Biomedical Research " Keith J. DiPetrillo
Arsenal Technical High School, Indianapolis, IN - Elmer SandersIndiana University School of Medicine " C. Subah Packer
Blythewood High School, Blythewood, SC " Stephen M. BiscotteUniversity of South Carolina School of Medicine - Gregory L. Brower
Camino Real Middle School, Las Cruces, NM - Sandra CrossNew Mexico State University " Marvin Bernstein
Campagna Academy Charter School, Schererville, IN - Kathryn HedgesIndiana University School of Medicine-Northwest " Stephen F. Echtenkamp
Deuel High School, Clear Lake, SD " Ramona LundbergAvera Research Institute/University of South Dakota School of Medicine " Kaia L. Kloster
Edgemont Jr./Sr. High School, Scarsdale, NY " Maria WinstonNew York Medical College " Patrick K. Stanton Granville Intermediate School, Granville, OH - Rebecca EvansColumbus Children's Research Institute & The Ohio State University " Leif D. Nelin
Kelly Miller Middle School, Washington, DC " Tonya WilliamsHoward University " Georges E. Haddad
Lawrence Central High School/Lawrence North High School, Indianapolis, IN " Kathryn MadrenIndiana University School of Medicine " Steven J. Miller
Lawrence North High School, Indianapolis, IN " Erin KnappIndiana University School of Medicine " Frank A. Witzmann
Many High School, Many, LA - Robert ManriquezLouisiana State University Health Sciences Center-Shreveport " D. Neil Granger
Morton West High School, Berwyn, IL - Robert BartlettUniversity of Chicago - Dorothy Hanck
New Albany High School, New Albany, IN " Jason CoxUniversity of Louisville Health Science Center " Jeff C. Falcone
Northwest High School, Hyattsville, MD " Clemontene RountreeHoward University " Georges E. Haddad
Norwood Middle School, Norwood, OH - Melissa ParsonsUniversity of Cincinnati College of Medicine " Manoocher Soleimani
Ockerman Middle School, Florence KY " Tina HaleUniversity of Cincinnati College of Medicine " Manoocher Soleimani
Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School, Scotch Plains, NJ " Cynthia PfirrmannUniversity of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School - Nancy R. Stevenson & Stephen J. Moorman
Seymour Middle School, Seymour, IN " William J. MahlIndiana University School of Medicine " Stephen A. Kempson
Verbum Dei High School, Los Angeles - Brandi OdomDavid Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA " Kenneth D. Philipson
The award provides each of the winning teachers with stipend and travel expenses of up to $8,500 and includes a one week science teaching forum in which they explore new and innovative research and teaching techniques intended for use in the classroom. Teachers will also receive travel expenses to attend Experimental Biology 2007 in the spring in Washington. That conference attracts more than 10,000 scientists annually.
"For many teachers this summer experience marks the first time they have ever participated in scientific research," said Marsha Lakes Matyas, APS director of education programs. "It gives them a new perspective on their teaching and the importance of hands-on, inquiry-based learning, which they can carry back to their students."
The Frontiers program began in 1990 with 10 high school science teachers who received fellowships for an eight week summer research experience in a physiology laboratory. Since then, nearly 345 teachers and 229 APS members nationwide have participated in the program.
Frontiers in Physiology has helped teachers increase their understanding of scientific research methods and the importance of biomedical research. It also has helped teachers incorporate best teaching practices " those that promote both excellence and equity in science education " as recommended by the National Research Council's National Science Education Standards.
The program is one of several grant-supported programs that APS administers to improve science education by building connections between teachers and the research community. For more information about APS Education Programs, email: [email protected] or visit the APS website at http://www.the-aps.org/education.htm.
The APS and the National Institutes of Health's National Center for Research Resources (NCRR), Science Education Partnership Awards (SEPA), and National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) sponsor the Frontiers in Physiology program.
The APS supports a variety of educational activities including programs and fellowships to encourage the development of young scientists at the undergraduate and graduate levels, with a particular focus on women and underrepresented minorities.
APS also supports refresher courses and teaching awards promoting continued excellence in education at the professional level, as well as teacher and program development in K-12th grade. In 2004, APS received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM).
The American Physiological Society is a professional scientific membership organization devoted to fostering scientific research, education, and the dissemination of scientific information. Founded in 1887, the Society's membership includes more than 10,500 professionals in science and medicine.
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