K-12 Outreach

Director of Outreach: Becky Gonda, Ph.D.

The Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh extends its teaching mission beyond the walls of the Clapp / Langley / Crawford complex to bring understanding of science to the greater Pittsburgh area. It is the goal of the Outreach program is to bridge the gap between the science community and K-12 teachers and students. In past years this has been accomplished through several successful programs, and now more than ever we are finding new ways to effectively translate current science into the classroom. Our programs support teachers, students and classrooms by providing cutting-edge technology and developing new techniques for incorporating that technology into the classroom.

There are several programs targeted to different facets of the Outreach program goals. Explore our links for more information about these programs, which include workshops for High School teachers, field trips to University facilities, and on-site visits to Elementary, Middle, and High Schools - all made possible by funding from The Grable Foundation and the National Science Foundation.

 

Workshops for Teachers

Summer 2024: Stay tuned for workshop details!

Biology is a rapidly changing field and scientists make discoveries daily that alter our understanding of biological principles and shape the direction of our future investigations. The High School Teachers' Workshops are intended to update topic knowledge and to facilitate the introduction of contemporary topics and techniques in the classroom.

The teachers selected for this program will receive:

  • A stipend
  • Pennsylvania Department of Education Act 48 Continuing Education hours
  • Access to the Pitt Kits program, which provides all of the reagents, supplies and equipment necessary to incorporate the new topics and concepts into their curriculum at no cost to the teacher or to the school district

For more information, contact the Director of Outreach, Becky Gonda, Ph.D.