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Nuggets 2006The Graduate Teaching Fellows in Project SCORE at the University of North Texas Health Science Center (UNTHSC) share information about their research projects at the beginning of the year with the Fort Worth ISD students they mentor. Fellows are encouraged to incorporate biotechnology they use in their research into the laboratories and lessons that they prepare, highlighting applications of specific bio-techniques they have learned to everyday life. To encourage this activity, Project SCORE has provided support for the Graduate Student Association (GSA) Science Fair at UNTHSC for middle and high school students. With participation doubling over the last two years, and nearly 50 entries anticipated this year, our Fellows will take part at all levels of the science fair program, including organization, judging, mentoring students on their projects, and ordering supplies used to develop these research activities. During the science fair, Fellows will conduct tours of their research laboratories, the DNA/Forensics facility, and the anatomy bioskills educational and research laboratory, in addition to facilitation of an engaging question/answer forum regarding current science discoveries and careers. Fellows gain organizational and communication skills, and get essential first-hand training in mentoring future science students, much like they expect their graduate faculty mentors to handle their research projects. The value of "on the job" interpersonal skills training for our graduate teaching Fellows is seen by our administration and faculty as a major asset, and elevates this program to a high priority activity for graduate students at the health science center. |
