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The event has drawn interest from teachers all over the state.

By University Communications
March 28, 2008

From handling live insects to tracking the spread of deadly diseases, a wide variety of hands-on workshops will be available to teachers attending the second annual Arizona K-12 Science Teacher Symposium.

The event takes place April 5 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the BIO5 Institute on The University of Arizona campus in Tucson. BIO5 is sponsoring the event.

The morning and afternoon workshops, all of which are designed to enhance life sciences education in Arizona, also include opportunities to make soda-bottle biospheres, perform DNA fingerprinting, simulate the exploration of Mars and dive into the details of Arizona river ecology.

Teachers also will take part in an expo that highlights UA resources for K-12 science teachers, have the opportunity to tour the BIO5 facility, hear a keynote address on the genetics of human similarities and differences and have the chance to network with other K-12 educators from around the state.

This year’s event will draw teachers from all over the state, including Kingman, Flagstaff, Payson, the metropolitan Phoenix area, Casa Grande, Willcox, Yuma, Tucson, Sierra Vista, St. David and Douglas.

"BIO5 is committed to fostering the next generation of scientists and to creating a science-literate work force that's prepared to meet the technological challenges of the decades ahead," says Education Outreach Director Stacey Forsyth. "These hands-on workshops are designed to support science teachers at all levels and, in doing so, to support young researchers as well."

All workshops meet Arizona science education standards, and teachers who participate receive eight hours toward recertification.