BETC engages high school students in the molecular life sciences by providing exposure, training, curriculum and resources to regional high school students and teachers.
BETC offers hands-on biotechnology themed summer camps and academic year full day workshops to high school students interested in exploring the life sciences. BETC also provides regional high school science teachers with training, curriculum and classroom resources to run engaging laboratory activities in their classrooms.
The Director, Dean Heather Brown, has worked for years connecting regional high schools, community colleges, and four-year colleges with industry/academic labs. The result: Clear pathways for students through the education system, and curriculum and training aligned with employer needs.
Teachers trained in the BETC curriculum have access to the Equipment Loan Program (ELP) at no cost. There are three available ELP curriculum modules focusing on modern techniques used in most biomedical and agricultural biotechnology labs including: Biotechnology (micropipetting, agarose gel electrophoresis, DNA profiling), PCR, and Transformation.
Each loan kit comes with curriculum, equipment and supplies to run the scenario‐based classroom laboratory activities with ease of access and limited work required by the implementing instructor.
BETC also employs college student interns to assist during the classroom activities and serve as mentors to high school students. The BETC staff participates in events (such as college and career fairs) to engage the community and students of all ages in the exciting nature and application of science.
For more information about BETC, please contact betc@cnsu.edu. BETC is supported in partnership with California Northstate University and California State University, Sacramento.