Projects must work to overcome any endemic tendency toward hubris. It makes a big difference in their attitude. The most worthwhile messages will be discarded if they are delivered in a condescending tone. To inform high school biology teachers about the latest research advances in molecular biology and genetics, CIBT invites teachers to a three-week summer institute. There they work with Cornell University faculty to learn content, develop laboratories, and acquire various resources.
Teachers come primarily from New York state, with a few from as far as Ohio and Massachusetts.
The program's success is based on the collegial relationships that develop between Cornell faculty and teachers as well as among the teachers. This task is not easy, she notes. Other Faculty Roles Calvo also recruits faculty and their research assistants to mentor teachers and students on independent research projects. In addition, she finds graduate students and others to lead short workshops based on the work that they are doing with research faculty. Faculty and teachers also collaborate on developing labs for use in the classroom.