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- Posted Tuesday August 6, 2013
$20,000 Arizona Community Foundation grant helps fund TGen education
TGen2School encourages scientific literacy, better-prepared bioscience workforce
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - Aug. 6, 2013 - The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) received another boost today for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education with a $20,000 grant from the Arizona Community Foundation (ACF).
TGen's Pathogen Genomics Division (TGen North) in Flagstaff
secured the grant for the research institute's TGen2School program.
At TGen North, some of the world's top experts study
disease-causing microorganisms, including everything from valley
fever to MRSA and even anthrax and plague.
TGen2School is a business-school initiative developed by David
Engelthaler, TGen North's Director of Programs and Operations.
Engelthaler is a key STEM education leader in Flagstaff, which in
2012 was declared America's first STEM Community.
"Arizonans are rallying around these efforts to promote the skills
students will need in the 21st century," Engelthaler said. "The
recognition of these efforts by ACF and others encourages
innovative approaches to STEM education. The genetic research we do
at TGen encompasses all aspects of STEM - from Science through Math
- so TGen is an ideal place to help lead Arizona towards STEM
literacy."
The ACF grant comes on the heels of a $20,000 grant from the APS
Foundation to help expand the TGen2School initiative by providing
science kits and teacher instruction promoting STEM
education.
The TGen2School initiative includes professional development
instruction for Flagstaff area teachers about the Bio-SEEK:
Bio-Science Education Enrichments Kits Program. Five sessions are
planned at TGen North, 3051 W. Shamrell Blvd., southeast of
Interstate 17 and the exit to the Flagstaff Pulliam Airport.
Refreshments will be provided, and participating teachers will
receive a $75 gift card.
For dates, times and registration, please contact Zsuzsi Kovacs,
TGen North'sSTEM Education Coordinator, at [email protected] or 928-226-6359.
Tours of TGen North for schools and other groups also may be
arranged by appointment with Kovacs.
"These are ideal tools that teachers can use to convey complex
concepts in ways students can easily absorb, and it lessens the
burden on the pocketbooks of teachers," Kovacs said. "These kits
are built on next-generation science standards and bioscience
basics that students need to succeed in the genome-age."
The newly developed science kits will be provided at no charge
through a checkout system available to teachers who have attended
the professional training. The goal is improved overall scientific
literacy, and a better-prepared bioscience workforce.
In addition to the $20,000 for TGen North, ACF also gave $15,000
to the Northern Arizona Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology
(NACET), a Flagstaff business incubator that promotes STEM
education, and $10,000 for a Flagstaff STEM education
coordinator.
The three grants were facilitated with assistance from ACF's
regional affiliate, the Flagstaff Community Foundation. They were
awarded as part of ACF's new Arizona Venture Fund for Quality
Education, a multi-faceted initiative that unites several
education-focused charitable funds to make investments that achieve
greater impact and scale. STEM education is a primary focus of the
Venture Fund.
"Now, more than ever, Arizona needs to promote STEM education,
which will not only better prepare students for the genome-age, but
will in the long run help improve Arizona's health care and
economy," said Steven Seleznow, President and CEO of the Arizona
Community Foundation.
With more than 1,300 charitable funds under management and five
offices across Arizona, ACF provides flexible giving options for
donors, major funding for non-profits and students, and leadership
around key community issues.
"Mobilizing the STEM workforce requires considerable collaboration
between the private and public sectors. Strategic and dedicated
inputs from STEM-related businesses and non-profits, such as the
TGen2School initiative, are critical to increase both key knowledge
and keen interest among youth today," said Mindy Bell, Flagstaff's
STEM City coordinator. For more information about Flagstaff's STEM
education efforts, visit: FlagstaffSTEMCity.com.
# # #
About TGen
Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) is a Phoenix,
Arizona-based non-profit organization dedicated to conducting
groundbreaking research with life changing results. TGen is focused
on helping patients with cancer, neurological disorders and
diabetes, through cutting edge translational research (the process
of rapidly moving research towards patient benefit). TGen
physicians and scientists work to unravel the genetic components of
both common and rare complex diseases in adults and children.
Working with collaborators in the scientific and medical
communities literally worldwide, TGen makes a substantial
contribution to help our patients through efficiency and
effectiveness of the translational process. For more information,
visit:www.tgen.org.
Press Contact:
Steve Yozwiak
TGen Senior Science Writer
602-343-8704
[email protected]
