Our favorite presentations at HI-TEC Conference 2017

The HI TEC schedule is out and the deadline for the preregistration for the main conference (July 5th) is upon us.  If you haven’t registered yet, or even if you have, we thought this would be a good time to let you what’s in store that is related to Bio-Link to help you plan your time at the conference (see HI TEC event page)

Selected Pre-conference Workshops

Monday, July 17th

8:30 A.M.–Noon Targeted Genome Editing with CRISPR: Engineering Genetic Changes in Living Systems
​The science driving biotechnology innovation and discovery is rapidly changing the landscape of the world we live in and remapping the pathway forward. Our understanding of genetic sequences encoded in our DNA and the recently acquired ability to target modifications in the blueprint of all living things through CRISPR/Cas9 have opened a universe of possibilities in the biotech sector. Genome editing technology holds the key that will unlock new applications in bioenergy, agriculture, food sources, medical therapeutics, and heritable cures for genetic disease. This hands-on session will explore the science behind genome editing using C. elegans and RNA-guided gene-targeting techniques. iPad minis will be provided. Attendees should bring their own laptops.

Presenters:  Elaine Johnson, Next Generation National ATE Center for Biotechnology and Life Sciences (Bio-Link), San Francisco, CA; Thomas Tubon, Madison College, Madison, WI; Sandra Porter, Digital World Biology, Seattle, WA; Leslie Blackie, Laney Community College, Oakland, CA; Jean Bower, Salt Lake Community College, Salt Lake City, UT

1:00 - 4:30 NSF Proposal Writing and Mock Panel Review
This workshop will present an overview of NSF programs of interest to community and technical colleges and four-year institutions. The NSF Merit Review process will be presented, and a panel of principal investigators of current award recipients will discuss their experiences. Participants will review a proposal that was successfully submitted. They will compare their own ratings to those of the panelists who formally reviewed and rated the proposal. Participants will leave with all materials used in the workshop.

Presenters:  Celeste Carter, Tom Higgins, National Science Foundation (NSF), Arlington, VA

Selected Conference Sessions

​Wednesday, July 19th

8:30 – 9:45 am – Keynote

9:45 – 10:15 Exhibits open

10:15-11:00 (1E)  The Community College Innovation Challenge: Engaging Students in STEM Innovation and Entrepreneurship
The Community College Innovation Challenge invites community college students to propose innovative STEM-based solutions to real-world problems. The challenge, co-hosted by NSF and AACC, enables students to use STEM to make a difference in the world and helps to incorporate research into community colleges’ traditional teaching missions. In this session, a faculty mentor and student team from Del Mar College, TX will share information on their challenge project and how they honed entrepreneurial and strategic communication skills as part of an innovation boot camp. Learn about this unique opportunity and how to assemble a student team to apply for the 2018 challenge. 

Presenters:  Ellen Hause, American Association of Community Colleges, Arlington, VA; V. Celeste Carter, National Science Foundation, Washington, DC; Danial Nasr Azadani, J. Robert Hatherill, Reavelyn Pray, John Ramirez, Del Mar College, Corpus Christi, TX

Wed, 10:15-11:00am (1F)  Funneling Students to Pathways in Nanotechnology
One focus of NEATEC is to increase student interest in pursuing educational pathways leading to careers in nanotechnology. At the 7-12 level, this is accomplished in two ways. The first way is through our NEATEC Learning Modules (NLM). An NLM is a self-contained unit that can supplement existing grades 7-12 science, math, and technology lessons. The second way is through awareness sessions provided to school guidance counselors. In these sessions, counselors are educated about the many careers available in nanotechnology and the pathways that lead to those careers. 

Presenters:   Mary Ann Nickloy, Kelly Fahrenkopf, Northeast Advanced Technology Center (NEATEC), Albany, NY

Wed 11:15am-Noon (2G) ATE Industry Partnerships: Understanding Challenges, Impacts, and Successful Implementations
The Working Partners Research Project is investigating how the NSF-ATE community partners with industry to create and sustain robust, relevant programs, projects, and centers. Join us to review the primary industry partnership models gleaned from our research across this diverse set of practitioners. Learn what the data is saying so far about challenges, impacts, and successful implementations, and share your experiences with the group. Presenters will also provide information and ask for participant input regarding the project’s online toolkit, which will make this research, data, and accompanying case studies easily accessible for all. 

Presenters:  Mary Slowinski, Working Partners Research Project, Bellevue College, Bellevue, WA; Rachael Bower, ATE Central, Madison, WI

Wed 1:15-2:00pm (Continued at 2:15)  (3B) A Biotechnology Curriculum: How to Start a Successful Program and Maintain It Long Term
Initiating programs presents many challenges. One speaker will detail how a successful biotechnology program at St. Louis Community College was initiated. Recommendations for new programs will be discussed in detail. The second speaker will talk about how challenges remain even with a well-established curriculum and what can be done to keep course materials relevant in this fast-paced, ever-changing field. 

Presenters:  Elizabeth Boedeker, St. Louis Community College, St. Louis, MO; Eilene Lyons, Bio-Link, San Francisco, CA

Wed 2:15-3:00pm (Continued from 1:15)  (4C) Contract Service Work at Community Colleges: CSO Bio-Link Summit II
The Bio-Link National and AC2 Bio-Link Regional ATE Centers present contract models first shared at a 2012 summit in St. Louis and a second 2017 summit held at Austin Community College, the location of a new wet lab incubator. Biotechnology community college program and industry representatives shared economic development strategies, contract models, and wet lab incubator work. The ACC Bioscience Incubator exemplifies how a college leveraged information provided in the first summit report. Learn lessons from community colleges that have experienced contract service and how you can apply them at your institution and with your local industry. 

Presenters:  Elaine Johnson, Bio-Link National Center, San Francisco, CA; Linnea Fletcher, Bio-Link AC2 Regional Center, Austin, TX; John Carrese, City College of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA; Deborah Davis, Bluegrass Community College, Lexington, KY

​Thursday, July 20th

Thur 9:15am-10:00am (7B) Using Story and an Interactive Movie to Immerse Students in a Regulated Workplace
Medical products and pharmaceuticals fuel the biotechnology industry, creating jobs for students. This industry is heavily regulated, so our students must learn to thrive in a regulated workplace. However, quality/regulatory affairs are challenging subjects, and a regulated workplace has a cultural and ethical foundation that is difficult to replicate in the classroom. For this reason, Bio-Link and Pellet Productions created an innovative interactive movie where students play the roles of characters in a biopharmaceutical workplace. In this role, the students make decisions. Depending on their decisions, different scenarios are enacted. Story and game thus become tools to help students learn at both a technical and visceral level. Participants will explore the interactive movie and will receive ancillary instructional materials.

Presenters:  Jeanette Mowery, Lisa Seidman, Pellet Productions, Madison, WI

Thur 9:15am-10:00am (7H) Hearing from Working Technicians Who Received Their Education at Community and Technical Colleges
This session, back by popular demand, provides an opportunity for working technicians to share experiences about attending community and technical college programs and to discuss their current positions. The technicians will be in a fishbowl setting with the audience observing. Members of the audience will hear from the technicians, will be able to ask questions, and will learn the “fishbowl” technique that is used in industry. Terryll Bailey, President of the Allison Group, is experienced in this process and will facilitate the session. 

Presenters:   Elaine Johnson, Bio-Link National ATE Center, San Francisco, CA; Terryll Bailey, The Allison Group, Seattle, WA 

Thurs 3:45-4:30pm  (12D) An Undergraduate Research Project: Teaching Non-Discipline-Specific “Soft” Skills
A technician who has critical thinking and problem-solving skills, understands the design of experiments and research methodology, can plan complex tasks, and possesses other positive non-discipline related attributes will have an advantage in obtaining and advancing within employment. Many employers expect their employees to have these skills. An undergraduate research project involving students at the onset has been initiated to teach these skills. This presentation will cover the project selection, student involvement process, integration of the above concepts, and results to date. 

Presenters:  Deb Newberry, Center for Nanotechnology Education (Nano-Link), Rosemount, MN