Category Archives: University of Connecticut & Connecticut Science Center

University of Connecticut & Connecticut Science Center

About the Project

Advances in the field of genomics are rapidly re-shaping personalized medicine and healthcare, however these advances are far out-pacing the awareness and knowledge among the public.  The Connecticut Science Center and the University of Connecticut’s Center for Applied Genomics and Technology are partnering on a “Genome Ambassadors” program.  The program will work with family audiences visiting the Science Center over a three year period to, (1) assess gaps in public knowledge and awareness of genomics, and (2) design and deliver a series of genomics-related program activities to address identified knowledge gaps. The program will serve as a model for leveraging the assets of university research institutions and informal science education organizations to address STEM-related issues of public importance.

About the Institutions

The Center for Applied Genetics and Technology (CAGT) is a University Center at the University of Connecticut, Storrs campus, and is the nucleating unit for modern genomics-based research at University of Connecticut. The mission of the CAGT is to create and sustain an environment that enables University and state-wide research and education in genomics-based fields. Moreover, the CAGT is the home of a professional Science Master’s (PSM) degree program in Applied Genetics, a novel, interdisciplinary degree designed to contribute to workforce enhancement and economic development. Since 2010, the CAGT has undertaken sponsorship of a group of its graduate students in the formation of the “Science Ambassadors”, dedicated to improving scientific knowledge of the public.

The Connecticut Science Center is a private non-profit center located in Hartford, Connecticut on the west bank of the Connecticut River.  The center was designed and constructed through a public/private partnership in response to the growing importance of providing STEM learning opportunities for the public and students. The Center houses 40,000 square feet of interactive exhibits, a 3D digital theater that features educational films, and a comprehensive menu of STEM-related educational programs including professional development training for teachers, onsite classroom/lab programs for schools, community outreach programs, vacation and summer enrichment programs, and more.  Since its opening in June of 2009, the Center has served approximately 1.5 million people, with annual participation around 300,000.

About the Partners

To read more about the Principal Investigators working on the Genome Ambassadors: Promoting Public Understanding of Genomics project, click here.

 

SENCER-ISE University of Connecticut and Connecticut Science Center Partnership Featured on CAISE Blog

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Photo credit: Stephanie Airoldi

Photo credit: Stephanie Airoldi

The partnership between the University of Connecticut and the Connecticut Science Center, supported by SENCER-ISE, has been featured in the CAISE (Center for Advancement of Informal Science Education) Perspectives Blog as part of its Museum/University partnership series.

Rachel O’Neill, professor and head of Genetics and Genomics at the University of Connecticut, and Hank Gruner, Vice President of Programming at the Connecticut Science Center are partnering to increase genomic literacy.
Learn more about University of Connecticut and Connecticut Science Center’s goals, challenges, future plans, and more in their blog post.

The Partners Prepare for Summer Programming

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Stephanie Airoldi of the Connecticut Science Center works with adult visitors. Photo by the Connecticut Science Center.

Stephanie Airoldi of the Connecticut Science Center works with adult visitors. Photo by the Connecticut Science Center.

Dr. Rachel O’Neill of the University of Connecticut, Mr. Hank Gruner of the Connecticut Science Center, and their colleagues have been preparing for the Genome Ambassadors public programs that will take place at the Science Center over a five-week period beginning July 7, 2014.

The Genome Ambassadors programs will focus on conducting surveys and hands-on genomic- and genetics-related activities with families visiting the Science Center to gauge public awareness and understanding of the principles and concepts of the field. The information collected will be used to guide the design and development of a 2,500 square foot genomics installation that the Science Center is planning for the next few years.

In preparation for the public programs, the team conducted a literature search to define the key genomic principles for public understanding, built pubic assessment activities, and established a graduate student fellowship program, which supports two Ph.D. students in their training to undertake research and outreach activities in Genomics Literacy.

Local high school students, taking part in a six-week genomics program at the Science Center, will be working with a staff member to develop and test pilot genomics- and genetics-related activities for family audiences. These activities, along with the public assessment work that will be done by the University of Connecticut graduate students, will be implemented in the Science Center’s Health and Sports exhibit gallery.

This collaboration between the high school and graduate students is a recent development that came about in a planning meeting to further develop the program schedule and activities. Gruner noted that, “We like the tie between the summer genomics program for high school students and the SENCER-ISE graduate student project as it broadens the experience for all involved.”

The two groups of students will work together on the Science Center floor presenting activities to the public that embed the survey work with hands-on learning experiences. The opportunity to connect high school students with an interest in genomics-related careers with university graduate students studying genomics was too great an opportunity to miss and benefits both groups of students. Through this program, the high school students will engage with their “near peers”, get to explore career options in genomics and post-secondary education, build their confidence in working with the public, use the information gathering from the collected data to guide the development of the activities that will refined over the summer, gain content knowledge, and build a new awareness of the field of genomics. The graduate students benefit by enhancing their science communication and mentoring skills while guiding the high school students and interacting with the museum visitors.