The grant comes from the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology’s Science Outreach and Communication Grant program.
Irfana Muqbil, who is an assistant professor of Biochemistry at Lawrence Technological University, played an instrumental role in securing a grant for the school that will allow it to play host to Detroit-area high schoolers and give them the opportunity to analyze DNA and genetically modified foods in March.
According to an article on Lawrence Technological University’s website, Muqbil was quoted as saying, “I have always had a great interest in outreach, so when I first learned about this grant two years ago, I really wanted to apply for it. It has two components--you have to propose biochemistry related outreach activity, and you have to have a diverse audience.”
The diverse audience that Muqbil found to participate in the program with the help of Jay Jessen, who is the executive director of the Marburger STEM Center at LTU, is Racquet Up Detroit. Racquet Up Detroit is a non profit organization that gives Detroit-area students opportunities to participate in after school activities.
The idea of the program is that the Racquet Up Detroit students will spend three days on campus at Lawrence Technological University and will have the opportunity to learn about laboratories, DNA analysis, and genetically modified foods. The kids will select foods like cereal or chips and learn how to isolate the plant DNA within them and look for genetically modified markers, as well. The students will also participate in a discussion about genetically modified food and the reasons why that kind of food can be controversial.
Jessen said of the project, “This is a really cool project, not just because we are giving them a chance to do this awesome hands-on activity, but the conversations afterward will bring in the social-emotional component of education as well.” He and Muqbil are hopeful that it may become a recurring outreach activity.
Shannon Timmons, who is the chair of the Department of Natural Sciences, praised Muqbil and Jessen for the project, saying, “This grant-funded outreach program aligns well with the department’s goal of engaging K-12 students in exciting hands-on science activities to help inspire the next generation of STEM professionals.”
This is not the only program that Racquet Up Detroit students have visited Lawrence Technological University for. Joey Goddeeris, who is the graduate success coordinator at Racquet Up Sports, said, “We’re finding many ways to partner with LTU and let our students experience college and scientific discoveries.”
For more information about Lawrence Technological University, visit the school’s website.