February 8, 2023
We are seeking scientist volunteers to mentor student teams for the Genes in Space contest. This competition invites students in grades 7 through 12 to design experiments that use biotechnology to solve a space exploration problem. The contest is aimed at fostering creativity, collaboration and critical thinking among young innovators. The winning experiment is flown to the International Space Station (ISS) and carried out by astronauts, using miniPCR™ tools.
Mentors work closely with student teams over an 8-week period to help them shape their proposed experiments and hone their science presentation skills. Under their mentors' guidance, finalists will prepare a short oral presentation to pitch their idea to our panel of judges at the ISS Research & Development Conference (ISSRDC) in Seattle, WA July 31-Aug. 3. At the conclusion of the Conference, the winner will be announced. We expect mentors to communicate often with their finalist team via email and hold at least 5 Skype sessions between the time the finalists are selected and ISSRDC. Mentors are also asked to review applications and help select the finalists.
Since its founding in 2015, Genes in Space has engaged more than 8,000 participants across 8 U.S. contests and one international competition in the United Arab Emirates. We've launched a total of nine student-led research projects to the ISS. Competition winners have published their results in peer-reviewed journals and have been responsible for significant advancements in the technical repertoire available onboard the ISS. Through their investigations, past winners have been responsible for the first use of PCR in space and the first use of CRISPR gene-editing technology in space.
More information available at www.genesinspace.org
Interested? Contact Katy Martin at genesinspace@minipcr.com
Mentors work closely with student teams over an 8-week period to help them shape their proposed experiments and hone their science presentation skills. Under their mentors' guidance, finalists will prepare a short oral presentation to pitch their idea to our panel of judges at the ISS Research & Development Conference (ISSRDC) in Seattle, WA July 31-Aug. 3. At the conclusion of the Conference, the winner will be announced. We expect mentors to communicate often with their finalist team via email and hold at least 5 Skype sessions between the time the finalists are selected and ISSRDC. Mentors are also asked to review applications and help select the finalists.
Since its founding in 2015, Genes in Space has engaged more than 8,000 participants across 8 U.S. contests and one international competition in the United Arab Emirates. We've launched a total of nine student-led research projects to the ISS. Competition winners have published their results in peer-reviewed journals and have been responsible for significant advancements in the technical repertoire available onboard the ISS. Through their investigations, past winners have been responsible for the first use of PCR in space and the first use of CRISPR gene-editing technology in space.
More information available at www.genesinspace.org
Interested? Contact Katy Martin at genesinspace@minipcr.com