This spring, the University of Florida Thompson Earth Systems Institute’s Scientist in Every Florida School Program will be hosting two one-day professional development workshops for Florida public school teachers at the University of Florida main campus in Gainesville. Twenty-one teachers representing 11 counties will receive stipends for their participation.
The first workshop, titled “Silk Protein Innovation and Novelty (SPIN) Program for Florida Elementary School Teachers,” takes place April 30 and will bring together six Florida elementary school teachers to learn about how scientists use computerized tomography (CT) scans to better understand silk-producing insects.
Participating teachers will have the chance to operate a nano-CT scanner and its associated software to produce three-dimensional images of moths and caddisflies. With these 3-D scans, they will be able to visualize the internal organs and structures associated with insect silk production. Researchers from the Kawahara Laboratory at the Florida Museum of Natural History will work alongside the teachers to develop engaging lesson plans to bring back to their classrooms.
“Our project uses UF’s advanced technological resources like CT scanners to study natural processes that shape how insects make silks,” said Akito Kawahara, professor and curator of lepidoptera at the Florida Museum. “We are excited to share these resources with Florida teachers so that they can inspire students in their classrooms to develop their own passion for nature.”
The second workshop, titled “Plants Get Sick, Too,” takes place on May 6 and will introduce 15 teachers spanning every grade level to the field of plant pathology, including plant diseases that affect home gardens and Florida agriculture, like citrus greening. Participating teachers will get the chance to tour the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Plant Diagnostic Center, which receives thousands of plant samples per year for diagnosis and treatment recommendations. The workshop is hosted in collaboration with the UF/IFAS Plant Pathology Department and will be led by faculty, postdocs, graduate students and technical staff.
“Part of the Scientist in Every Florida School mission is to bridge the gap between academia and K-12 classrooms, and these programs help ensure Florida teachers are connected to current university research in fields that match state curriculum standards,” said Brian Abramowitz, K-12 education and outreach coordinator for SEFS. “We are thrilled to collaborate with both teachers and scientists to get students excited about our wildlife and natural resources.”
Sources: Brian Abramowitz, babramowitz@floridamuseum.ufl.edu, 516-225-9390; Akito Kawahara, kawahara@flmnh.ufl.edu
Media contact: Becca Burton, rlburton@floridamuseum.ufl.edu, 850-316-1555
EDITORS: Selected teachers are from schools in Alachua, Bradford, Washington, Marion, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Polk, Putnam, Sumter and Volusia counties. Names and schools of selected teachers are available upon request. Photos and videos of this year’s programs will be made available shortly after they conclude.