Schools win funds for biotech labs

By Stan Freeman

05/05/2008- The Republican

In an effort to inspire high school students to pursue careers in biotechnology, a half dozen schools and school districts in Western Massachusetts have been awarded "BioTeach" grants for the 2008-09 school year.

The schools and districts in South Hadley, Northampton, Westhampton, Ludlow, Shelburne Falls and Fiskdale are among 50 statewide that will receive the grants, which include up to $14,000 in lab equipment and programs to train teachers in using the equipment.

The funds will come from the Massachusetts Biotechnology Education Foundation, a nonprofit group, supported in part by the biotech industry, that promotes science and biotechnology education in the state.

"We're looking to prepare the work force for the industry that is the fastest growing in the state," said Lance A. Hartford, executive director of the foundation.

Whether or not students go on to work in the biotechnology field, throughout their lives they will be using the health-care system, which is increasingly employing biotechnology treatments and processes, he said. "We want to give them knowledge about biotechnology so that later on they will be likely to use it in their lives."

The area schools and school districts that won the grants were Ludlow High School, Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School in Northampton, South Hadley High School, Mohawk Trail Regional High School in Shelburne Falls, Westhampton Regional School District and Tantasqua Regional High School in Fiskdale.

The BioTeach program will offer professional development classes to teachers this summer to train them in using the labs. It will also provide curricula for labs. The interactive labs are designed to allow students to explore such things as DNA fingerprinting, the potential of bacteria and the mystery surrounding sickle cell anemia.

Gail Lucey, the director of curriculum for Ludlow High School, said the grant may will make new courses possible.

"It provides us the equipment to offer courses in our science curriculum that will incorporate biotechnology and the life sciences. There is a recognized need for skilled individuals in the biotechnology field and this grant will allow ... youths to explore those career opportunities," she said.

Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School Principal Arthur P. Apostolou said the grant "will allow us to teach more sophisticated biology, (which) we sometimes can't afford to do."

Christine B. Sweklo, the assistant superintendent of the South Hadley schools, said the grant "is huge for us."

"We're very excited about the potential this will provide for our students and our staff. We don't get an opportunity like this very often to enhance our program in such a specific area of study," she said.