[neact] Fwd: A Fantastic Summer Opportunity for Teachers

THIS CANNOT WAIT
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A Fantastic Summer Opportunity for Teachers
Thinking about what to do this summer? For professional development? For vacation? Why not take advantage of a week-long free professional development program for middle and high school science teachers offered jointly by FDA and USDA in our nation's capital? Consider the following:
While no illnesses have been reported, on March 31, 2009 a California company recalled about 2 million pounds of pistachios over concerns of possible salmonella contamination.
In January, 2009, the CDC stated that more than 500 people had been found to be sick with the outbreak strain Salmonella Typhimurium. Investigations conducted by the CDC and others showed that peanut butter and peanut butter containing products were responsible for the outbreak.
Foodborne disease outbreaks and food recalls such as these frequent the news. How do these organisms cause disease? What can an individual do to protect themselves from these diseases? What measures are being taken by the federal government to prevent transmission of these organisms?
The science and technology of food safety from the farm to the table continues to change to meet our need for safe food products. New and emerging technologies have enabled scientists to broaden their understandings of these and similar organisms.
But you might be thinking - what do these outbreaks and recalls have to do with my teaching science? What better way of engaging your students in learning science than to do it through food? But, how can this be done?
Science educators do have an opportunity to provide inquiry-based lessons related to these outbreaks and recalls. These lessons can be found in the curriculum Science and Our Food Supply developed jointly by NSTA and FDA. And, in order to prepare teachers to use these lessons, FDA and USDA have joined as partners to provide a free multidimensional professional development program that will take place July 19 - 26. Included in the program are transportation to and from Washington, DC and all housing and meal expenses.
During the program, selected teachers will receive a copy of the curriculum and will participate in activities such as the following - meet with FDA and USDA scientists to learn about their current research on foodborne diseases; work with teachers at the microbiology lab at the University of Maryland to learn proper techniques to use in doing microbiology labs with their own students; tour the Phillips Seafood Company's processing plant in Baltimore; tour USDA's farm in Beltsville, MD.
Selected science teachers are asked to implement the curriculum in their classrooms during the 2009 - 2010 school year and to do a workshop on the curriculum for other teachers. All of the teachers will attend an Enhancement Conference in Phoenix, Arizona on December 5, 2009 - again, all expenses paid. Each teacher will also receive a $1000.00 grant to conduct the workshop.
To download a copy of the application - deadline April 23, 2009: <http://webserver1.grad.usda.gov/images/stories/docs/10229_1_0_FDA_Workshop_Application_Summer_2009.pdf>http://webserver1.grad.usda.gov/images/stories/docs/10229_1_0_FDA_Workshop_Application_Summer_2009.pdf
For more information about the program see FAQ: <http://webserver1.grad.usda.gov/conferences/fda_nsta/fdafaq.php>http://webserver1.grad.usda.gov/conferences/fda_nsta/fdafaq.php
To order a free copy of the curriculum: <http://webserver1.grad.usda.gov/conferences/fda_nsta/request_form.php>http://webserver1.grad.usda.gov/conferences/fda_nsta/request_form.php. 





Please feel free to share this with your colleagues.



Mimi Cooper

FDA Middle Level Facilitator for the summer workshop




















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