National Institute of General Medical Sciences 5R25GM142044-04

Frugal Science Academy: Training K-12 innovators and democratizing synthetic biology tools

The award funds the Frugal Science Academy project to provide low-cost synthetic biology training and tools to US high school teachers, enhancing biotechnology education in resource-limited schools.

Description

Hands-on training in synthetic and molecular biology is often limited by the cost of laboratory equipment, especially in high school settings with limited resources. The Frugal Science Academy (FSA) addresses this barrier by providing professional development for US high school teachers in the use of low-cost, build-it-yourself laboratory tools and classroom-ready molecular biology methods. Training will include workshops and follow-up implementation support for frugal hardware, cloning, CRISPR, and related synthetic biology activities adapted for school settings. FSA will also develop teacher-facing curriculum modules, laboratory protocols, and an online resource hub to support classroom use, troubleshooting, and broader dissemination. By pairing affordable tools with sustained teacher training, the project will expand access to hands-on synthetic and molecular biology instruction in schools with limited laboratory resources. This teacher-centered model supports current national priorities in health and biotechnology by building classroom capacity in skills foundational to the biomedical research workforce.

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