Unique Learning Alert: Rural High School Meets BioTech in the Classroom
Posted on | March 16, 2010 | No Comments
In Greenville, New York, small biotech company C2 Biotechnologies has established a research lab and office at the Greenville High School campus with the support of the Greene County Industrial Development Agency and Senator James Seward.
The pilot project – called the ’Greene Commercial Centre’ – creates a hybrid “innovation centre” by joining business, educational, and community organizations together in a multi-functional business centre/incubator environment at the local high school.
“We had this unique opportunity to put this bio startup in the only high school left in the county that has a Future Farmers of America program, and there is a nice alternative energy feel to it and it seems to work,” said Greene Industrial Development Agency Executive Director Sandy Mathes.
C2 Biotechnologies specializes in developing consumables for the renewable energy markets; they design enzymes used to convert biomass into energy.
“This model of interacting with students and educators as a regular practice during research and development activities is extremely attractive and beneficial,” said Larry Cosenza, founder of C2 Biotechnologies. “Incorporating students into my regular course of conducting experiments is helpful and provides a level of education hard to replicate in the classroom.”
The Greenville Central School District believes the project is a perfect fit with its current Agricultural and Science programming by providing real world connections to their existing curriculum, including the potential for student internships, employment, and relevant hands-on scientific research in an emerging technological area.
The project cost of $8,250 was funded through a combination of the company’s US Energy grant and Greene Industrial Development Agency’s use of a Senator Seward Member Initiative grant.
Can you see opportunities to create such partnerships in your community?
Source: Technical Education Magazine
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