\u201cThis program brings hands-on science discovery to the high school classroom,\u201d said Doreen Osgood<\/a>, clinical associate professor in URI\u2019s biotechnology<\/a> program and director of ABE-Rhode Island<\/a>. \u201cWe show students how science is applicable to real life and how they can continue that journey in higher education.\u201d The ABE program provides teachers with professional development, curriculum, and up to $20,000 worth of research-grade equipment and supplies at no cost. Students carry out hands-on experiments that mirror real biotechnology workflows, including gene cloning and protein analysis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since launching in Rhode Island in 2007, the program has reached more than 30,000 students across the state and southeastern Massachusetts. Today, 39 teachers across 23 schools participate, with more than 80 trained overall. Globally, ABE spans 27 sites in 17 countries and has reached nearly 1.2 million students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In classroom settings, that reach becomes tangible. One signature lab centers on producing a red fluorescent protein, a process that parallels the production of biologic medicines such as insulin. Using techniques like gel electrophoresis, students analyze DNA samples and determine whether genetic modifications have been successful\u2014often encountering for the first time the precision and patience required in real laboratory science.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe big idea we want students to understand is: how do you make a drug?\u201d Osgood said. \u201cWe mimic that process in a way that\u2019s accessible and engaging.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n That approach was recently on display at Cumberland High School, where URI faculty partnered with Amgen to bring an ABE lab into an AP Biology classroom \u2013 an event that also drew Governor Dan McKee in attendance. Students used professional-grade tools to explore genetic engineering concepts involving plasmids and restriction enzymes, mirroring how scientists design and verify DNA used in medicine production. For many, it was a rare opportunity to use the same techniques found in professional labs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Rhode Island, these experiences also serve as a pipeline to higher education. Osgood estimates that at least five to six students each year from ABE classrooms enroll in URI\u2019s biotechnology program, with others pursuing STEM majors across the university.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019ve seen more and more students come to URI as we\u2019ve become more involved with the schools,\u201d she said. \u201cSometimes they even recognize us at admissions events and say, \u2018I met you in my high school class.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Supporting Teachers<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Beyond student impact, the program provides critical support for educators, especially in under-resourced districts. \u201cWhen you see what they have available, you realize how important it is to provide support and materials,\u201d Osgood said.<\/p>\n\n\n Teachers receive equipment, curriculum, and ongoing guidance from URI staff, including site visits and troubleshooting assistance. \u201cThey love the program,\u201d Osgood said. \u201cWhy spend their own budget on expensive materials when they can use a full curriculum with support \u2013 for free \u2013 and invest their resources elsewhere?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Much of that hands-on support comes from program coordinator Arielle Chaves who works closely with participating schools. ChaveS regularly visits classrooms, helps teachers implement lab activities, and provides real-time troubleshooting when experiments don\u2019t go as planned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Working with teachers and high school students has been the most rewarding part of the program, Osgood said, and it has also influenced how she teaches at URI. \u201cIt\u2019s made me more aware of the transition from high school to college,\u201d she said. \u201cUnderstanding where students are coming from helps me create a more inclusive and effective classroom.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Outreach with Purpose<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ultimately, the program is designed to strengthen scientific literacy while building a pathway into higher education and the biotechnology workforce across Rhode Island and the broader Southern New England region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Osgood views the program as central to URI\u2019s mission as a public, land-grant university. \u201cThis is outreach to the community,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s about what URI is doing for the state \u2013 bringing resources, opportunities, and awareness to local schools.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Through partnerships with schools and industry, ABE continues to expand its reach while also creating opportunities for URI students, who help prepare lab kits and support teachers as part of their own hands-on training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Osgood hopes the program inspires students to see themselves in science, whether at URI or beyond. \u201cObviously, we\u2019d love them all to come here,\u201d she said. \u201cBut if they pursue science anywhere, we\u2019ve done our job.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" With support from the Amgen Foundation, URI delivers hands-on biotechnology labs to high school classrooms across Rhode Island, connecting students to real-world science and career pathways.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1089,"featured_media":21588,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21587","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/cels\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21587","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/cels\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/cels\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/cels\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1089"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/cels\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21587"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/cels\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21587\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21592,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/cels\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21587\/revisions\/21592"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/cels\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/21588"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/cels\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21587"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/cels\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21587"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/cels\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21587"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Science Comes to Life<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/cels\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2130\/Arielle-and-I-at-Cumberland-HS-3272026.jpeg\")