The University of Utah's Genetic Science Learning Center has been awarded a $750,000 Howard Hughes Medical Institute grant to enhance its award-winning Web site and educational outreach programs.
Center staff will work with teachers to redesign basic genetics section of the Learn.Genetics Web site, learn.genetics.utah.edu, with new 3-D animations, interactive experiments and in-class learning experiments for students in 5th through 10th grades. Called "Genetics for Your Life," the project also will provide resources and professional development materials for educators.
Anyone who wants to learn more about genetics is welcome to use the site.
One of 31 awarded nationally, the grant is part of a $22.5 million HHMI initiative to help research universities connect with local schools to stimulate interest in studying science. The center will receive $150,000 annually for five years.
The GSLC Web site receives approximately eight million visits a year from people in 160 countries and has been named among the 50 best science and technology Web sites by Scientific American online. The GSLC received its original funding from HHMI and employs its own science educators, curriculum developers, multimedia artists and Web developers.