AAAS 2011 Bio-Link
14
Elaine Johnson www.bio-link.org February 17, 2011
Transcript of AAAS 2011 Bio-Link
Historical Perspective
1992 – U.S. Congress asked the National Science Foundation to create a program that would take advantage of the resources of community and technical colleges in areas of emerging technologies.
NSF created the Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program
1998 – Bio-Link was funded as the National ATE Center for Biotechnology in San Francisco
Mission:
(1)increase the number and diversity of well-trained technicians in the workforce
(2)meet the growing needs of industry for appropriately trained technicians
(3)institutionalize community college educational practices that make high-quality education and training in the concepts, tools, skills, processes, regulatory structure, and ethics of biotechnology available to all students.
Goals:
The new National Center of Excellence will:
•strengthen and expand biotechnology education programs across the nation
•enable biotechnology faculty, students, and technicians to work more efficiently
•support a smoother transition of students to the technical workforce in the biosciences and related industries
Activities:
The new National Bio-Link Center of Excellence:
• delivers direct services including consulting, professional development, maintenance and replication of an equipment depot, instructional clearinghouse, and faculty internships
• shares information and promotes collaboration with web-based community through the use of Web 2.0 tools, conference presentation, and Synergy collaboratory
• expands and improves information for students and life-sciences companies with national survey information, career matrix, and video career scenarios
Biotechnology = Collection of Many
IndustriesAgricultural, chemical, pharmaceutical, environmental, forensic, military, medical device, biomaterials companies use biotechnologies in research development and processing.
Jobs are available for people with various skills and educational levels.
Biotech Careers
Biomanufacturing
Algae Biofuels
www.aacc.nche.edu
A Collaboration of ATE Centers for
Achieving Scale
Research, Practice and Transformation Through Synergy
Next Generation Bio-Link Direct Services
• Professional Development• Leader-Links• Project & Center Advice• Curriculum & Instructional Materials Clearinghouse• Equipment Distribution• Courses in a Box• Online Courses• Career Information• Faculty Internships• Dissemination of Best Practices• Longitudinal Survey• Networking
AAAS/Bio-Link Alignment
Strong interest & involvement in undergraduate biology educationCommitment to hands-on skillsDedication to preparing workforceBelief in access for all studentsEngagement of partnersInterdisciplinary focus
Where We Are Now?
Bio-Link has moved from a Center of Excellence to a National Resource Center and last year to a Next Generation ATE Center for Biotechnology and Life Sciences
($12.5M NSF Support)
Elaine JohnsonBio-Link [email protected]
