The Amgen Foundation has granted $2.5 million to Amgen Biotech Experience, an innovative science education programme, bringing the total committed to nearly $8 million since the programmes inception in 1990. The Amgen Biotech Experience provides a real-world biotech lab experience to middle and high schools in Amgen's US and UK communities and will engage more than 50,000 students this year.
This grant will be provided to community colleges, universities and non-profit organizations that lead and support the Amgen Biotech Experience in different regions across the country where Amgen has a presence, including Southern and Northern California, Colorado, Washington, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Puerto Rico and the UK. The programme will also be introduced in Washington, DC, in 2014.
Education Development Centre, Inc. (EDC), a global non-profit organization that creates learning opportunities around the world, has also been named Programme Office to oversee the programmes implementation and facilitate its continued development.
Cutbacks in educational funding have led to limited resources for hands-on scientific experiences in many communities, and the National Academies' National Research Council has shown a significant connection between strong lab experiences and teachers' abilities to generate student interest in science. The Amgen Biotech Experience seeks to help make this connection in secondary school classrooms by introducing students to contemporary science techniques, including a robust, hands-on curriculum, research-grade equipment and comprehensive teacher training.
"By providing cutting-edge scientific experience today, students can begin to develop capabilities to make a powerful impact on society tomorrow," said Robert A Bradway, chairman and chief executive officer of Amgen. "The Amgen Biotech Experience, designed in collaboration with educators and Amgen scientists, provides a rigorous real-world experience that helps open students' eyes to the world of biotechnology and scientific discovery."
The Amgen Biotech Experience has engaged more than 300,000 students in learning molecular biology using relevant curricula, tools and techniques. Teachers are given a hands-on, inquiry-based, biology curriculum, in addition to a full suite of transportable, research-grade equipment and supplies, at no cost to the participating schools. Utilizing Nobel Prize-winning discoveries to prepare a recombinant DNA molecule that carries a gene for red fluorescent protein, students follow many of the steps biotechnology researchers use to produce medicines.
"I have been using the Amgen Biotech Experience in my classroom since 2008, and it is inspiring to see how eager the students are to learn these lab techniques. Several students have even told me they want to pursue a major in biology after they finish the course," said Amy Welch, a biology teacher at Brea Olinda High School in Brea, Calif. "As a teacher, my knowledge of biotechnology lab techniques has increased immensely since I first implemented the program and I feel that I am providing my students with skills that make them strong scientific thinkers. Given its genuine impact, I am so thankful to the Amgen Foundation for making this programme possible."
Beginning this year, EDC will apply its deep experience in designing and delivering high-quality science education programs to establishing a Programme Office for the Amgen Biotech Experience. Working closely with existing sites, EDC will build on the assets of the program and implement strategies to enrich the programme, including the introduction of a new strengthened curriculum for this school year.
"EDC has a 50-year history of sharing the excitement of science learning with teachers and students," said Luther Luedtke, president and chief executive officer of EDC. "We are pleased to work alongside the Amgen Foundation to continue to make science compelling in the classroom and to encourage students to take up science-related careers."
The Amgen Foundation supports numerous national and international organizations that strive to strengthen STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) education and inspire students to pursue careers in science.