The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation has selected six Oklahoma science teachers as its 21st class of Foundation Scholars.
As Foundation Scholars, the middle and high school teachers—who hail from Oklahoma City, Edmond, Medford, Moore, Yukon and Norman—will spend four weeks this summer in OMRF’s labs. Under the guidance of an OMRF researcher, they will perform experiments and develop novel laboratory techniques to bring back to their classrooms and share with their students.
The course, entitled “Biology is a Village,” will include experiments relating to chemistry, biochemistry, genetics, structural biology and bioinformatics, as well as general medical science.
The teachers selected as 2008 OMRF Foundation Scholars are:
Julie Angle, Medford, Medford High School
Jeffrey Baughman II, Oklahoma City, Westmoore High School
Vanessa Berry, Norman, Mayfield Middle School
Jennifer Bush, Edmond, Deer Creek High School
Joanne Peterson, Moore, Putnam City High School
Meredith Wronowski, Yukon, Capitol Hill High School
The six were chosen from a statewide applicant pool and will receive a $2,000 stipend as well as $1,000 in classroom and laboratory supplies at the end of the course.
“A simple change in environment can often spark new ideas, and it helps scholars look at their teaching methods in new ways,” said OMRF’s Timothy Mather, Ph.D., instructor for the Foundation Scholar program. “Not only do they leave here energized, their enthusiasm is passed on to their students. So this program enriches science education on many levels.”
For more information about the program, visit: http://omrf.org/OMRF/Education/Foundation2007.asp
About OMRF:
OMRF (omrf.org) is an independent, nonprofit biomedical research institute dedicated to understanding and developing more effective treatments for human disease. Its scientists focus on such critical research areas as Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, lupus and cardiovascular disease.
