RALEIGH (Oct. 4, 2016) — The North Carolina Association for Biomedical Research (NCABR) is excited to announce a collaboration with the Biogen Foundation that will send teachers and administrators from some of North Carolina’s most economically distressed counties to this year’s Bridging the Gap STEM education conference for free.
Through the Biogen Scholars Program, the Biogen Foundation is covering registration fees for 30 K-12 teachers and 20 K-12 administrators who work in 16 Tier 1 counties across the state. Tier 1 counties have been deemed North Carolina’s most economically distressed by the state Department of Commerce.
The 30 K-12 teachers who are participating in the Biogen Scholars Program also will receive travel stipends and reimbursement for costs associated with substitute teachers needed during the two-day conference.
“The Biogen Foundation wants to spark a passion for science and STEM fields among students across North Carolina,” said Gena Renfrow, North Carolina administrator of the Biogen Foundation. “We know that investing in our teachers is one of the most important and effective ways to reach our future science leaders.”
Teachers and administrators from the following Tier 1 counties have been selected to participate in the 2016 Biogen Scholars Program: Beaufort; Bertie; Columbus; Edgecombe; Hertford; Jackson; Lenoir; Martin; McDowell; Nash; Pasquotank; Robeson; Rutherford; Scotland; Vance; and Warren.
K-12 teachers and administrators who attend Bridging the Gap also will be eligible to apply for funding for their schools through the Biogen Foundation’s Ignite the Power of STEM program, which provides grants to support STEM education programs and resources.
Bridging the Gap is an annual conference organized by NCABR. It brings together representatives from K-12 education, higher education, industry, state and local government, and other groups, such as museums and economic development nonprofits. Attendees share ideas and resources toward a common goal of strengthening science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, education throughout North Carolina at the K-12 and college levels.
The fifth annual edition of Bridging the Gap will be held Oct. 25-26, 2016, at the McKimmon Conference & Training Center in Raleigh. Since 2012, more than 1,440 educators, thought leaders, policymakers, industry representatives and others have attended from 81 North Carolina counties and 20 states. The Biogen Foundation is the presenting sponsor of this year’s conference.
NCABR is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1989 by the leaders in North Carolina’s bioscience research community. NCABR’s members and supporters include academia, industry, government, nonprofit research organizations and professional societies.
The mission of the Biogen Foundation is to provide access to science education and essential human services to children and their families in the communities in which Biogen operates. The Foundation is committed to sparking a passion for science and discovery, supporting effective science education initiatives, and strengthening efforts to make science education and science careers accessible to diverse populations. The Foundation seeks to inspire the next generation of scientists who will tackle the challenging issues of tomorrow. It wants young people to know that science is fun, science is for everyone, and that they can change the world through science.
More information about:
- Bridging the Gap conference: http://bridgingthegapnc.com/
- NCABR: www.ncabr.org
- Biogen Foundation: www.biogen.com/en_us/responsibility/biogen-foundation.html
- 2016 North Carolina County Tier Designations: www.nccommerce.com/research-publications/incentive-reports/county-tier-designations
NCABR media contact
Suzanne Wilkison
NCABR President
919.785.1304 x 207
Biogen Foundation media contact
Gena Renfrow
North Carolina Administrator
919.993.6023
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