VBTA Conference Allows Scientists To Share Science With Science Teachers
Over 200 K-12 science teachers attended the 7th Annual Voelcker Biosciences Teacher Academy (VBTA) Spring Conference on Saturday, Feb. 4, in the Academic Learning Teaching Center at UT Health San Antonio. The conference theme was “Fueling the Future.”
Graduate students, postdocs, and alumni presented one-hour workshops at the conference including
– Teresa Evans, Ph.D., UT Health San Antonio
“Preparing the Next Generation of STEM Leaders“
– Bridget Ford, Ph.D., UT Health San Antonio
“Of Mice and Men: Why Animals are Necessary for a Successful Research Enterprise”
– Megan Borror, Ph.D., UT Health San Antonio
“Come Together: Mitochondrial Dynamics and Aging“
– Travis Block, Ph.D., StemBioSys
“Stem Cells: Past, Present, Future and the Role of San Antonio”
– Audrey Hagar, Ph.D., UT Health San Antonio
“The Teenage Brain“
– Sadiya Ahmad, UT Health San Antonio
“Biology of the Brain: What Happens After Stroke or Traumatic Brain Injury?“
– Emily Boice, Ph.D., Mind Science Foundation
“Live Wired: The Brain Game“
– Jonathan Berman, Ph.D., UT Health San Antonio
“Mistakes in Thinking that Even Scientists Make“
– Manasi Tamhankar, Texas Biomedical Research Institute & UT Health San Antonio
“Zika Virus 101: What We Know So Far”
– Milos Marinkovic, Ph.D. Candidate
“Adult Stem Cells: Harnessing the Regenerative Potential of the Human Body“
Other presenters included research scientists from Texas Biomedical Research Institute, the Southwest National Primate Research Center, and the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research. Additional presenters include UT Health San Antonio faculty along with faculty and students from Texas A&M, local resources such as Mind Science Foundation, Communities in Schools, and K-12 teachers from the San Antonio area, sharing exemplar lessons and strategies to improve science education.
The conference was free to all area K-12 teachers and pre-service teachers. The VBTA is funded through the NIH Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA) with additional support from the Max and Minnie Tomerlin Voelcker Fund.
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