Biotechnology Institute Leads Effort to Bring Life Science Education to the National Stage

“By convening the country’s state bioscience programs through this Coalition, we are able to serve as the conduit between learning institutions and life science companies,” said Janelle Curtis, Biotechnology Institute VP for Programs.  “As the country’s national organization dedicated to bioscience education, the Institute looks forward to working with this group toward our common goal to support innovation in the life sciences.”  

 “CSBI is leveraging resources across the United States to speak with a united voice for the biotech industry on life science education, workforce development and entrepreneurship,” said CSBI acting co-chair Lance Hartford, executive director, MassBioEd. “We focus on programs that the life science industry is uniquely positioned to deliver and can be replicated across many states and scaled-up nationally.” 

Currently, CSBI is identifying leading state programs for national consideration.  These programs include teacher-training initiatives such as iBIO Institute’s TalentSparks!; workforce competitiveness programs including Oregon Bioscience Association’s BioProand BIOCOM Institute’s BioCollaborative; and BayBio Institute’s Expert Networkresource for entrepreneurs.  CSBI is also designing a web-based clearinghouse of all current state-level programs focused on life science education, workforce training and entrepreneurship.

Working together since December 2011, CSBI serves as an umbrella for standard practice sharing, joint fundraising and national initiatives for life science (STEM) education (student education, career exploration and teacher professional development); workforce development (workforce training, incumbent worker professional development, dislocated worker training); and entrepreneurship. CSBI provides the opportunity for state bioscience organizations to share knowledge with the goal of improving bioscience education and innovation, while maximizing industry support.  With its focus in these areas, the CSBI complements the life science policy work of the Council of State Bioscience Associations (CSBA), formed by BIO in 2002.  

CSBI founding  organizations include  BayBio Institute, BIOCOM Institute, the Biotechnology Institute, iBIO Institute, KansasBio, MassBioEd, MdBio Foundationand the Oregon Bioscience Association.   Forty-one state bioscience organizations are CSBI members with nine additional groups expected to join.  The Coalition is co-chaired by BayBio Institute executive director Lori Lindburg and MassBioEd executive director Lance Hartford.  The Biotechnology Institute serves as CSBI’s administrative organization. By partnering, CSBI members bring unprecedented access to programs, facilitate national communication, and connect an extensive network of industry professionals.  CSBI is supported with funding provided by Human Genome Sciences.

ABOUT THE BIOTECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE

The Biotechnology Institute is an independent, national nonprofit organization dedicated to education about the present and future impact of biotechnology.  Its mission is to engage, excite and educate the public, particularly students and teachers, about biotechnology and its immense potential for solving human health, food and environmental problems.  For more information, visit www.biotechinstitute.org. 

ABOUT THE BIO INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION

The BIO International Convention will highlight the latest trends and the newest opportunities for executives, investors, scientists, policy leaders, and media from around the world. Speakers at the sessions will share breakthroughs in medicine, diagnostics, the environment, energy production, business operations, financing, partnerships, policy issues and food and agriculture. The Convention also features the BIO Business Forum, a unique platform for biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, academic research institutions, and investors from around the world to gather and discuss strategic opportunities. For registration, conference agenda and exhibitor information, visit 2012 BIO International Convention.

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Members of the Coalition of State Bioscience Institutes (CSBI)