Outreach Program Queens NY Elementary Schools
Beyond efforts to meet the challenges of ensuring food security, as plant scientists we have a responsibility to educate the public on the biology and technology that enables crop improvement. By introducing students to basic concepts in genetics, genomics, and biotechnology at an early age we can help spark excitement in STEM. Thus, in addition to training postdocs and undergraduates, a major component of our projects are to build on the success of existing outreach we have established with schools in Queens, NY. Our goal is to introduce hundreds of 4th-8th grade students to the exciting discoveries and opportunities in plant biology, by focusing on the origins of food crops and how scientists use knowledge and tools from plant development, biotechnology, and genomics to improve crops.
