Outreach Events - Past
2014
November 15, 2014 | 9:00-12:30 PM | New Orleans, MS
American Public Health Association
Genetics Deconstructed: Learning the Essentials with Hands-on Models
Presenters:
Kathleen M. Vandiver, COE2C Director
Amanda Mayer, COE2C Staff
Catherine Ricciardi, DNP
November 5, 2014 | 1:00PM - 4:00PM | Revere Hotel, Boston, MA
International Association of Clinical Research Nurses (IACRN) - Workshop Presented: “Genetics Deconstructed: Learning the Essential with Hands- on Models”
Presenters:
Kathleen M. Vandiver, COE2C Director
Amanda Mayer, COE2C Staff
Catherine Ricciardi, DNP ANP-BC, Nurse Director, MIT Clinical Research Center
The purpose of this COE2C workshop was again to provide a deeper knowledge of normal cellular processes so that the novel treatments being tested might be more understandable. The sickling of hemoglobin S variants at low oxygen tensions and DNA repair mechanisms were modeled as well as the cellular mechanisms of gene expression. Participants were highly engaged and had the opportunity to ask many questions.
November 3, 2014 | 2:30PM - 3:40PM | Massachusetts General Hospital- Institute of Health Professionals
First Test Module Delivered for Nurse Practitioners at MGH-IHP
Presenters:
Kathleen M. Vandiver, COE2C Director
Amanda Mayer, COE2C Staff
Catherine Ricciardi, DNP ANP-BC, Nurse Director, MIT Clinical Research Center
Assistant Professor Rita Olans, DNP, MSN, CPNP, SNP-BC at Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professionals invited the COE2C team to create a hands-on genetics lesson for her class of 60 nurse practitioners. Rita Olans is a member of our Community Advisory Board which met on Oct 6, 2014. The board had advised us to select nursing students as our first audience for the models have developed. We delivered our first of module at MGH-IHP with the help of Catherine Ricciardi, DNP ANP- BC on Nov 3, 2014. We look forward to continuing with this collaboration.
October 30, 2014 | 8:00AM - 10:30AM | Children’s Hospital Boston
A Genetics Primer for Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses: A “Hands-on” Workshop
Presenters:
Kathleen M. Vandiver, COE2C Director
Amanda Mayer, COE2C Staff
Catherine Ricciardi, DNP ANP-BC, Nurse Director, MIT Clinical Research Center
MIT’s COE2C team was invited by Nurse Director Lucinda Williams, MSN, RN, PNP, NE-BC to teach a basic genetics course to research nurses with our hands-on molecular models. We were part of a daylong workshop at Children’s Hospital Boston that included lectures on: 1) Testing and Management of Hereditary Conditions; 2) Tumor directed Treatment: Personalized Medicine; and 3) Treatment of inherited conditions: Hematopoietic stem cell transplant and gene therapies. The purpose of our COE2C workshop was to provide a deeper knowledge of normal cellular processes (including DNA damage and repair) so that the novel treatments being tested might be better understood.
October 6, 2014 | 5:30PM - 8:00PM | MIT Simmons Hall, Cambridge, MA
Community Advisory Board /Health Professionals Meeting, Boston Area
COE2 C Organizers:
Kathleen M. Vandiver, COE2C Director
Amanda Mayer, COE2C Staff
Catherine Ricciardi, DNP ANP-BC, Nurse Director, MIT Clinical Research Center
A Community Advisory Board/Nurse Session on October 6th 2014 provided superb support for the COE2C’s new initiative. With a congenial supper meeting at the Center Director’s Residence at Simmons Hall, COE2C Director Kathleen Vandiver convened a Community Advisory Board/Nurse Session with the Center Director, Deputy Director and nine health professionals present, others attending via Skype. These health professionals included nurse faculty from regional institutes such as Worchester State University and Boston College School of Nursing, and nurse directors from major Boston hospitals, such as Brigham & Women’s and Children’s Hospital. See Nurse Advisory Board list.
Nurses are facing a knowledge deficit when it comes to modern genetics and gene/environment interactions. Health professionals are now searching for highly effective instructional methodologies to bridge this knowledge gap. For the past six years, the COE2C has been responding to health professionals’ needs, providing two day workshops on campus. We have been utilizing our own LEGOtm-based DNA and protein models that allow the molecular basis of environmental health and disease to be taught with a hands-on approach.
Our meeting in October with nurse colleagues coincided with a major technological breakthrough with these models. Through a partnership with the MIT Edgerton Center, the COE2C has now manufactured DNA and RNA models of our own design. In addition, the MIT Edgerton Center has filed for the patents to protect these unique models so that MIT will be able to make them available for broad distribution. Thus the MIT COE2C is now capable of meeting the needs of health professionals across the country and potentially across the globe.
The capacity to produce the molecular models has come about after a rigorous proof-of-concept period over the last six years, where we have been led numerous nurse workshops. At this board meeting we were now looking for specific input on how the teaching materials should be structured and produced.
- What audience should we address first? Our advisory group recommended we address undergraduate nursing students as the primary target in conjunction with nursing faculty at nursing school institutes. We should train nurse faculty how to teach using our unique our hands-on methods and we should provide them professional development workshops.
- What topics should we address first? From the numerous topics brought forth in the brainstorming session, the following overarching theme became evident. We should focus on “Environmental and genetic risk factors for disease over the life span with an emphasis on the environmental influences on health as the focal point.”
- What lesson format should be created? The board members recommended small, discrete hands-on modules. These short modules could be inserted into existing courses. The modular approach also allows instructors from other health professional programs to utilize the materials.
As a result of this meeting, Dr. Rita Olans invited the COE2C team to teach this introductory module to a class of 60 students in a nurse practitioners’ pediatrics course at the Massachusetts General Hospital, Institute of Health Professionals. The MIT COE2C team of Drs. Kathy Vandiver, Amanda Mayer and Catherine Ricciardi led the first field-trial on Nov 3, 2014.
September 22-24, 2014 | 11:30-1:00 pm | National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC
Partners in Environmental Public Health (PEPH)- Communication Research in Environmental Health Sciences - Environmental Health Literacy
Training Session for Information and Classroom Educators with "Understanding Air"
Presenter:
Kathleen M. Vandiver, COE2C Director
September 20, 2014 | 8:00-12:00PM | Boston University, Boston, MA
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE)
Teacher Chemistry Course; Call-back Saturday session
Chemistry workshop for 22 teachers including the Environmental Health Science Materials, “Understanding Air”
Presenters:
Kathleen M. Vandiver, COE2C Director
Amanda Mayer, COE2C Staff
Amy Fitzgerald, COE2C Staff
September 17, 2014 | 9:00-3:00PM | Building N52 Room 310, Cambridge, MA
Science Kit Building for Schools and Communities
Corporate Volunteering Day Event Donated by Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) Massachusetts also supported by People Making a Difference TM (PMD), a local community non-profit (PMD).
Two shifts of 50 volunteers from BCBS each for 2.5 hours.
Presenters:
Kathleen M. Vandiver, COE2C Director
Lori Tsuruda, PMD Director
August 6, 2014 | | Agard House, Williams College in the Berkshires, MA
2014 Massachusetts Teacher Association (MTA) Summer Conference, Science workshop "Teaching DNA, Proteins, and Protein Synthesis Concepts With LEGO® Molecules"
Presenter:
Amanda G. Mayer, COE2C Staff
This is a large teacher conference with workshop offerings for all grades and subjects, and this was our first time participating in this conference. We had a low attendance at our session, but very enthusiastic responses. We will consider increasing our contribution at this conference in the future.
- Sponsor: Division of Training & Professional Learning, Massachusetts Teachers Association (MTA)
- Audience: 5 science teachers from across Massachusetts
August 6-8, 2014 | 3-day Engagement Trip | Maine
Maine trip to visit with Native Americans
Maine trip to visit with Native Americans was arranged by the COE2C for the purpose of listening and learning about the environmental health issues of the communities, so that the CEHS might better serve the northeast region. The CEHS visited with three tribes of the five tribes in Maine: the Maliseets, the Micmacs, and the Penobscots. Meetings were arranged with Tribal Nation educators and environmentalists. We plan to visit the remaining two Passamaquoddy Tribal Nations on our next trip to Maine.
The CEHS Group: Kathleen M. Vandiver (COE2C Director), John Essigmann (CEHS Center Director), Dr. Robert Croy, Dr. Ellen Essigmann, and Nancy Dalrymple.
- Dinner with Al Morris in Houlton, Maine. He is the director of the Charlton Project, an alternative high school program.
Listening and Learning: Al Morris explained how his alternate high school programs work with the Maine public schools. In rural school districts, the Charlton Project provides more student-directed courses that fulfill the high school diploma for students who would otherwise be high school dropouts. The Charlton Project has several school sites and a small number of Native American students. - Meeting with Maliseet Tribal members Sharri Venno and Susan Young at Maliseet Tribal Offices on Maliseet Lands in Littleton, Maine.
Listening and Learning: Maliseets are concerned about contaminates/metals in native foods that are seasonally gathered and eaten in high quantities, such as fiddlehead ferns in the springtime. The Maliseets are also highly involved in restoring the Meduxnekeag River. Modern farming practices (fungicides, soil runoff) as well as wastewater treatment plants are examples of environmental health concerns related to the river. Plans for improving the economic base for the tribe were discussed. - Meeting with Environmental Director of Aroostook Band of Micmacs, Fred Corey, and Director of Education, Nicole Frances in Presque Isle, Maine.
Listening and Learning: The Micmac Tribe now owns the Loring Air Force Base, a superfund site that has been remediated. However they have inherited many hazardous sites. Major concerns are issues of mercury in food and in the air as well as high asthma rates. Both tribal directors were interested in a follow-up engagement activities, specifically for the CEHS to present and lead a discussion about local and global levels of mercury as well as for a COE2C staff to co-host with the Tribal Education Dept. an event with activities that would engage people in learning about air pollution and healthy airways. Other collaborative analytical studies of water and air samples had been discussed via phone conversations with Fred Corey and the CEHS scientists.
Seal of the Micmac - Meeting with Penobscot Nation, University of Maine Professor Darren Ranco, Water Resources Program Manager Dan Kusnierz, Department of Education & Career Services Director Candi Ewer and Education Advisor Tish Carr at the Penobscot Tribal Offices at Penobscot Reservation in Maine.
Listening and Learning: The discussion topics were wide ranging. Examples of the water issues discussed are the algal blooms, paper mill effluents upstream, and the sediments located in the Dolby Pond. The Penobscots are developing a unique mentoring program for youth in environmental science, with several high school students participating along with staff in the water resources program managed by Dan Kusnierz in the summer. Penobscot youth in this program, now in its second year, are mentored both by scientists and tribal leaders. The frank discussion helped recognized that educational partnerships that remain connected to the local culture and community are the wisest choice. In addition, shared analytical chemistry investigations and educational opportunities with MIT COE2C staff were discussed.
July 15-16, 2014 | 9:00-3:30PM | Northwest Forest Conference Center, 12715 Telge Rd., Cypress, TX
14th Annual Environmental Health Sciences Summer Institute, Teacher Workshop: "Teaching DNA, Proteins, and Protein Synthesis Concepts With LEGO® Molecules"
Presenters:
Kathleen M. Vandiver, COE2C Director
Amanda G. Mayer, COE2C Staff
A two-day workshop that included environmental health sciences participatory activities one day focused on building with the Atoms and Molecule Set to learn how to teach introductory chemistry concepts. Lessons included the topics of climate change and air pollution. The other day focused on building with molecular models and learning software for 3-D molecular modeling.This is the sixth year that MIT’s CEHS COE2C has participated in the Environmental Health Sciences Summer Institute in Texas.
- Sponsor: Dept. of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, College of Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center
- Audience: Texas Science and Math teachers, and Texas A&M provided the Texas teacher professional development certificates
June 25, 2014 | 1:00-4:00PM | Buidling N51 Room 310, Cambridge, MA
Science Education Partnership for Teachers (SEPT) National Session, COE2C workshop title "Genetics Deconstructed, Picking up Molecular Processes by Manipulating Models"
Presenters:
Kathleen M. Vandiver, COE2C Director
Amanda G. Mayer, COE2C Staff
MIT’s Teacher Education Program hosts a week-long residential program for 30-40 teachers. Teachers who were accepted from around the country attend and heard MIT Professors lecture and participate in hands-on science and engineering workshops.
- Sponsor: Scheller Teacher Education Program, MIT Dept. of Urban Studies
- Audience: 33 High School science teachers (from all disciplines) from across the US attended and about 3 or 4 international teachers as well.
June 23, 2014 | 9:30-3:00PM | MIT Museum classroom and the MIT Koch Institute, both on the MIT Campus, Cambridge, MA
Boston College Connell School of Nursing, Summer Program: "Fieldtrip to MIT" includes a workshop entitled, "Mastering Key Molecular Concepts with LEGO DNA and Proteins"
Presenters:
Kathleen M. Vandiver, COE2C Director
Amanda G. Mayer, COE2C Staff
Catherine Ricciardi, DNP
The MIT CEHS COE2C designed a fieldtrip for nursing students which included a molecular biology workshop, a lab tour, and a talk with MIT researchers at the MIT Koch Institute.
- Co-Sponsor: Boston College Connell School of Nursing, a Harvard Catalyst affiliated nursing school.
- Audience: 22 Nursing Students from Boston College with two professors.
Boston College Nursing Program, Summer 2014 Fieldtrip to MIT
May 31, 2014 | 8:30-2:30PM | Austin Peay State University, Clarksville, TN
Austin Peay State University Hands-on Biology Teachers' Workshop: "Teaching DNA, Proteins and Protein Synthesis Concepts with LEGO Molecules"
Presenters:
Kathleen M. Vandiver, COE2C Director
Amanda G. Mayer, COE2C Staff
This full-day Saturday workshop included an environmental health sciences group discussion, building with molecular models, and computer time for 3-D molecular modeling.
- Sponsor: Jack Hunt STEM Center, Austin Peay State University (APSU), Clarksville, TN
- Audience: 22 High School teachers from the regional district schools near Clarksville, TN. Teachers received Tennessee Professional Education Certificates from APSU.
May 22, 2014 | 9:30-2:30 PM | Novartis Institute for BioMedical Research (NIBR), Cambridge, MA
Novartis Institute for BioMedical Research (NIBR) Community Partnership Day Event: "Assemble Amino Acids from LEGO for School Science Kits"
Presenters:
Kathleen M. Vandiver, COE2C Director
Lori Tsuruda, Director of People Making a Difference
The MIT CEHS COE2C described its mission and led Novartis scientists in the assembly of molecular biology kits for distribution to schools and afterschool programs. With the COE2C’s leadership, the company donated 200 man-hours employee time to the communities of Cambridge and Somerville.
- Sponsor: Novartis Institute for BioMedical Research (NIBR), Cambridge, MA
- Co-Sponsor: People Making a DifferenceTM, a local non-profit community volunteer organization.
- Audience: Two shifts of 50 people each, two hours each- 200 man-hours of labor donated to the community. Novartis Community Partnership Committee donated the funds for the cost of the kits as well.
April 24, 2014 | 8:30-4:00PM | New York Hall of Sciences, New York City, NY
i2 Camp Teacher Training Workshop included a "Toxin Trackers" Course
Presenter:
Kathleen M. Vandiver, COE2C Director
A daylong training session for camp instructors. This training included teaching about air and water pollution and how to use measurement tools such as a Dylos Particle meter for investigative studies in the course “Toxin Trackers.” Campers are entering grades 5-8 in the fall for this weeklong summer session.
- Sponsor: i2 Camp, a Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) summer camp.
- Audience: Four teachers (2 lead teachers for the two sites in Boston and in NYC, and their college student assistants) for the pilot session of “Toxin Trackers”, an environmental health science course.
April 19, 2014 | 11:00-4:00 PM | Main Branch Cambridge Public Library, Cambridge, MA
The Cambridge Science Festival Exhibit "A Closer Look at Exposures"
Presenters:
Kathleen M. Vandiver, COE2C Director
10 MIT Graduate Students, plus Harvard COEC's volunteer staff
Ever wonder why some environmental exposures are bad for your health? Come check out our exhibit! You can measure your airway health, inflate lungs and check out what smoking can do, build a DNA strand using LEGO® and replicate it, learn how UV rays and smoking damage your DNA, and lastly--- build a model of air using LEGO® bricks and create the common air pollutants too!
- Sponsor: Cambridge Science Festival
- Co-Sponsor at the Event: Harvard School of Public Health Center for Environmental Health
- Audience: About 200, mostly family groups, the general public in Cambridge, MA and surrounding towns
Cambridge Science Festival event, “A closer look at exposures” 2014
April 8, 2014 | 4:00-5:00PM | Millennium Biltmore Hotel, Los Angeles, CA
Poster Presentation, "Snapshots of Five Bi-Directional Successes from MIT COE2C (2013-2014)"
Presenter:
Kathleen M. Vandiver, COE2C Director
Poster Session Presentation at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Annual Directors Meeting.
- Sponsors: NIEHS and the Southern California Center for Environmental Health Sciences
- Audience: NIEHS Center Directors, COEC Directors, and conference participants
April 6, 2014 | 9:30-10:30 AM | Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, Boston, MA
Hands-on Teacher Workshop at the NSTA Conference: "Teach Climate Change Using Common LEGO® Bricks!"
Presenters:
Kathleen M. Vandiver, COE2C Director
Amanda G. Mayer, COE2C Staff
This workshop included teaching the sources of air pollution by concretely modeling the processes of photosynthesis, and complete and incomplete combustion.
- Sponsor: National Conference of the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA)
- Audience: 35 Middle School science teachers. Teachers received Professional Education Points/Continuing Education Certificates.
February 27, 2014 | | Bridgewater State University Campus, Bridgewater, MA
Middle School Science Teacher Workshop: "Teach Proteins before DNA"
Presenters:
Kathleen M. Vandiver, COE2C Director
Amanda G. Mayer, COE2C Staff
A one-hour introductory workshop to teach biological molecules, focusing on environmental health sciences, aimed for Middle School science teachers.
- Co-Sponsor: Advancing STEM Education Conference, sponsored by the Center for the Advancement of STEM Education (CASE), Bridgewater State University
- Audience: 19 Middle School teachers from local districts. Teachers received Massachusetts Professional Education Points/Continuing Education Certificates.
February 27, 2014 | A day long event | Chelsea High School, Chelsea, MA
Chelsea High School Science Fair
Presenters:
Biological Engineering Graduate Student Group Leader and a team of four other graduate student volunteer judges from the MIT CEHS
The Town of Chelsea is an environmental justice community in the Mystic River Watershed. Science Dept Head Allison Greenbaum is on our Community Advisory Board. This is an annual high school event and MIT graduate students from the Center for Environmental Health Sciences volunteered to be judges.
- Sponsor: Chelsea Public Schools
- Audience: Chelsea High School students, many Hispanic, participating in the School Science Fair along with their teachers and parents.
February 8, 2014 | 8:30-3:30PM | MassBioEd Foundation, 300 Technology Square, Cambridge, MA
Hands-on Science Teacher Workshop: “Teaching DNA, Proteins and Protein Synthesis Concepts with LEGO Molecules”
Presenters:
Kathleen M. Vandiver, COE2C Director
Amanda G. Mayer, COE2C Staff
A daylong workshop that included environmental health sciences activity, building with molecular models, and learning software for 3-D molecular modeling.
- Co-Sponsor: MassBioEd Foundation, MassBioTeach Program
- Audience: 18 High School teachers from regional technical schools near Boston, MA. Teachers received Massachusetts Professional Education Points/Continuing Education Certificates
