| NSF Org: |
EES Div. of Equity for Excellence in STEM |
| Recipient: |
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| Initial Amendment Date: | September 15, 2005 |
| Latest Amendment Date: | January 16, 2009 |
| Award Number: | 0533086 |
| Award Instrument: | Standard Grant |
| Program Manager: |
Mark Leddy
EES Div. of Equity for Excellence in STEM EDU Directorate for STEM Education |
| Start Date: | November 1, 2005 |
| End Date: | October 31, 2009 (Estimated) |
| Total Intended Award Amount: | $0.00 |
| Total Awarded Amount to Date: | $299,649.00 |
| Funds Obligated to Date: |
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| History of Investigator: |
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| Recipient Sponsored Research Office: |
1 SILBER WAY BOSTON MA US 02215-1703 (617)353-4365 |
| Sponsor Congressional District: |
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| Primary Place of Performance: |
1 SILBER WAY BOSTON MA US 02215-1703 |
| Primary Place of
Performance Congressional District: |
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| Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): |
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| Parent UEI: |
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| NSF Program(s): | Disabilities Research in STEM |
| Primary Program Source: |
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| Program Reference Code(s): |
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| Program Element Code(s): |
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| Award Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Fund Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Assistance Listing Number(s): | 47.076 |
ABSTRACT
Project Summary
The Research for Disabilities Education Focused Research Initiatives (RDE-FRI) will permit Boston
University to enhance its science education programs by expanding the School of Medicine's (BUSM)
CityLab program to further address the needs and interests of students with disabilities.
In 1996, CityLab launched its Summer Biotechnology Program (SummerLab) for high school students
who seek an intensive one-week exposure to a life sciences laboratory. With RDE (PPD)-DEI support
over the past two years, we have expanded the Summer Biotechnology Program into a model program
that fully integrates youths with disabilities into a genuine laboratory experience. Participants with and
without disabilities work together in teams towards the common goals of learning and performing
molecular biological techniques for recombinant protein synthesis, protein isolation, and protein
purification. Students also work together to prepare and present a poster presentation for their parents,
friends, and BUSM faculty members. SummerLab participants also discuss science career opportunities
and tour local biotechnology companies such as Genzyme so that they can see how their experience at
SummerLab might lead to future employment. This seminal experience serves as a basis for further
laboratory science education through BUSM's CityLab Scholars and Academy programs.
This RDE-FRI effort will enable us to continue to expand access to biotechnology and biological sciences
for students with disabilities. We will continue to expand our summer and academic year laboratory
experiences for students so that they can pursue advanced education at the undergraduate level. We will
also expand the pipeline of students with disabilities who consider science education and careers by
providing practical coursework and experience for science teachers who work with students with
disabilities. We believe that by providing teachers with a mentored experience, they will be better able to
encourage their students with disabilities to pursue science coursework.
Intellectual Merit Criterion:
The proposed program will provide physical (lab bench height, flexible seating without attached chairs,
etc.) and material (large print for visually impaired youth, interpreter for hearing impaired youth, visual
aids and note-takers for youth with brain injuries and learning disabilities) accommodations to facilitate
career exploration. This program will further integrate the youth with disabilities so that the students with
and without disabilities work together and learn from one another. Students who attend these programs
will be encouraged to pursue additional science education, either at Boston University (through CityLab
Academy and standard undergraduate science programs) or elsewhere. We will also seek to increase the
number of science teachers who actively promote science careers as attainable goals for youth with
disabilities. This program will also include on-going mentoring for both students and teachers to
reinforce positive attitudes towards science. We will also evaluate student and teacher participants'
attitudes towards science and science careers.
Broader Impacts Criterion:
Perhaps the most important characteristic of this proposal is that it opens doors for youth with disabilities
who might not have had an opportunity to appreciate the tremendous career opportunities that are
available in the sciences. There is a strong national interest in encouraging all students to pursue
continued study of science and mathematics so that they have the requisite background to consider a
science career. Students with disabilities are often particularly suited to pursue science because they
possess the intellectual capacity to become independent thinkers, but often they (and their families and
teachers) do not see the path to a science career. This program will provide a new pathway for students
with disabilities to explore science careers and promises to build on CityLab's success in encouraging its
students to pursue continued study of science. We will disseminate the materials and best practices that
emerge from this project through conventional science education and disability networks.
Please report errors in award information by writing to: awardsearch@nsf.gov.
