Cherokee Biodiversity Workshops this coming June.
The workshop will be held June 23-27 at Cherokee High School in Cherokee. The
co-directors are Carmaleta Monteith and Wesley Bonds (Dept of Chemistry and
Physics Western Carolina University.) In addition we plan to use two master
teachers (both award-winning NC secondary school biology teachers) as well as a
host of outside speakers.
Teachers receive a $50/day stipend ($250 total), CEU credits, free breakfasts
and lunches, plus a free banquet meal prepared by the North American Indian
Women's Association. Teachers will also receive one-half of a free double-occupancy room in the Cherokee Best Western Inn just across the
street from the high school.
Science experiments will involve both field work in the GSM Natl Park and lab
work in Cherokee High School. Basically participants will collect environmental
samples, recover DNA from them, then test for genetic markers to measure species
biodiversity. The techniques involved should be within easy grasp of most
secondary school science teachers. Our goal to to show teachers how to use the
local environment of their home school to test for biodiversity and ultimately
follow the impact of environmental degradation. The workshop touches on a number
of topics within the NC DPI SCOS for secondary school biology, esp. related to
environmental studies, genetics, and biotechnology. Our subject area is quite
timely and the Park environs plus the ethnobotany connection with local Cherokee
culture provide a terrific background for this learning experience.
Registration is done online at the NC Biotech Center website, www.ncbiotech.org.
A $75 registration deposit is required but most teachers recover this from their
local school administration. Amy Black at the Center can assist if necessary. She's at 919-541-9366 or at amy_black@ncbiotech.org.
The agenda can be found here..