Published 6 issues per year
ISSN Print: 1072-8325
ISSN Online: 1940-431X
Indexed in
EMBRACING THE FUTURE: BIOINFORMATICS FOR HIGH SCHOOL WOMEN
ABSTRACT
Sixteen high school women participated in a 5-week residential summer program designed to encourage female and minority students to choose careers in scientific fields. Students gained expertise in bioinformatics through problem-based learning in a complex learning environment of content instruction, speakers, labs, and trips. Innovative hands-on activities filled the program. Students learned biological principles in context and sophisticated bioinformatics tools for processing data. Students additionally mastered a variety of information-searching techniques. Students completed creative individual and group projects, demonstrating the successful integration of biology, information technology, and bioinformatics. Discussions with female scientists allowed students to see themselves in similar roles. Summer residential aspects fostered an atmosphere in which students matured in interacting with others and in their views of diversity.