High School Science Teachers Helping WSU Research

Thanks to a grant from the MJ Murdock Charitable Trust, high school science teachers spent the summer working with researchers from WSU Tri-Cities on project involving viticulture, plant pathology and more.

WSU’s Judith Morrison said this is the first time they’ve participated in this program and it has been very beneficial to both parties.

“Get the research out into the community through these teachers so the teachers are able to take back the research that they do and the research that the researchers do to their classroom.”

Morrison said it also strengthens science education in the classroom.

One example is a Chiawana science teacher who worked with V&E Professor Tom Collins on characterizing different grape varieties by region using gas chromatography or mass spectrometry.

Morrison also noted that working with high school teachers helps the school’s researchers.

“I think the public sees scientists as being isolated or removed from the real world and anytime we can help the public see more what science is like is important.”

Any teachers interested in the program should ask their school district if they are part of the program, or push to get their district involved.

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