Scientist, Amgen Corporation, Seattle

I envision a science education system in which students attain scientifically literacy. By this I mean that students understand the scientific process and learn how to make informed decisions regarding science in their own lives. Students learn that science is a process of inquiry in which hypotheses or questions are tested experimentally in order to learn more about a biological/chemical/physical process or system. Experimental data (including the proper experimental controls) is collected and analyzed. From the analysis of the data, conclusions are drawn and new information is gained. So, students learn how to formulate questions, how to test their questions experimentally and how to analyze experimental data and draw conclusions. Optimally, the pursuit of science is not done in a vacuum. Scientists learn from previous work/discoveries and share new discoveries with the greater scientific community. So, scientifically literate students must learn how to communicate the results of their scientific studies with others. They must also learn to analyze the work of others, determine whether they think it is accurate/correct and make decisions accordingly. Ethics would be a component of science education as well, equipping students to analyze advances/discoveries in science and technology and make informed choices about how they believe these can be responsibly used in society or in their own lives.

As a scientist, I hope that this type of education results in a pool of young people who are passionate about science and have the skills and desire to succeed in scientific fields. As a member of society, I hope that all students become scientifically literate, whether they desire to pursue science as a career or not. I hope all young adults would gain the skills to make informed decisions regarding scientific issues that will impact society and/or their personal lives – issues such as genetic testing, whole organism cloning, genetically modified organisms etc.

My science education advocacy efforts occur largely within the context of my employment with Amgen, Inc. I am employed as a scientist but am involved on a volunteer level in many science education activities. As a Pharmaceutical/Biotechnology company, Amgen has a number of valuable resources that can be used to advance science education, including access to technology and a scientifically skilled staff. I believe it is important to demonstrate the value of involvement in science education to Amgen management and to Amgen staff. I try to do this by recruiting and coordinating Amgen involvement in a number of science education activities that take place both at Amgen and within the greater community.

Life Sciences Research Weekend is a yearly event held at the Pacific Science Center with the goal of showcasing the extraordinary range of life science research that takes place in Washington State. Participating research institutions provide hands-on activities and information for people of all ages. I coordinate the development of the hands-on activities offered at the Amgen table as well as the recruitment and training of volunteers from the Amgen staff for this event. This year we offered activities demonstrating the structure and function of antibodies, with emphasis on their role in fighting infection by bacteria, viruses and parasite s. Amgen volunteers lead the activities and describe, in lay terms, some of the exciting work we do at Amgen using antibody technology to fight other types of diseases. I coordinate Amgen participation in the Student Bio Expo, an annual science fair for high school aged students from across the State. I recruit science mentors for Expo students and judges for the Expo event from within the Amgen WA staff and provide support for those mentoring and judging. I also serve as an Expo mentor myself. One on one mentoring of Expo students reminds many of us at Amgen of the excitement of scientific discovery and of the importance of science education.

On the teacher side of the science education equation, I coordinate Amgen's participation in the Science Education Partnership program, which brings teachers into labs to work with a scientist mentor for a week each year. Teachers work on developing new inquiry-based curriculum for their classes, learn how scientific work is applied in the real world every day and network with other science teachers. Again, I am involved in recruiting Amgen scientist mentors and supporting them throughout the program. This program gives teachers the skills and resources to teach inquiry-based science to their students as well as experience in how scientific research impacts real life. Take Your Kid to Work Day is an annual internal Amgen WA program that provides a half day of hands-on science education to relatives of Amgen staff aged 6-13 years. I work on the planning committee, developing age appropriate hands-on activities that educate the kids about scientific areas (chemical separation, bone biology etc) which are relevant to work at Amgen. This event requires recruiting and training a large number of Amgen staff to help with the activities and Page 3 of 3 provides curriculum that can be and is used by Amgen staff in their own children's school classrooms. By recruiting, training and supporting the involvement of Amgen staff in a variety of internal and external science education activities, I strive to develop their personal interest and investment in science education. By sustaining the interest and investment in science education of many Amgen staff members, I hope to strengthen, maintain and increase Amgen WA's commitment to science education.