Innovative Learning & Sustainable Solutions to Societal Challenges

Join us to learn the benefits of project-based learning and community partnerships. At Penn State Scranton, the teams’ success along with details of the goals and expectations will be shared. The session will focus on the benefits to students including the development of oral and written communication skills, critical thinking, teamwork, and the exhibition of leadership qualities. Students’ engagement helped to hone strong organizational skills, including planning, goal setting, and time management, which were indispensable throughout the process. Making it into the finals in the competition provided invaluable experience and significantly assisted in their overall professional development.

In our innovative biology programming at Penn State Lehigh Valley, we had an idea to partner with BioTech for a CURE. As such, we’ve forged a strategic alliance with AIMSBIO, a leading international biotech company to address our critical need for reagents (costing over $5,000 per semester) to carry-out a unique Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) on the cardiovascular endothelium in our BIOL 230W labs.  Thus far, we have leveraged not only AIMSBIO’s philanthropic donations of essential reagents but also their expertise in immunofluorescence microscopic protocols. This collaborative approach accelerates scientific discovery, strengthens industry connections, and empowers our students – future Penn State graduates who enter the STEM workforce.

Presented By:

• Mr. Kevin Feifer, Lecturer in Business, Scranton
• Dr. Jacqueline McLaughlin, Professor of Biology, Lehigh Valley

Facilitator: Robin Gill, Dubois