High school students in the state are getting hands-on experience doing research on salmon genetics, and now a major grant will help that work continue for another couple of years. They and their students were tired of doing canned lab work, said Wimberger. They wanted to do some authentic, topical research and they wanted to do it on salmon. Much is already known about salmon, and since they return to home waters in many parts of the state, populations would be close to many high schools to allow for convenient study. They re actually doing research and they re really excited about it, said Wimberger.
Students compare sets of genes to see if populations differ from one another.
Each class works with a mentor and many of them work on questions suggested by salmon biologists. The education gives them the confidence and the ability to think critically as citizens, he says. They learn how to ask questions and interpret evidence. Sometimes teaching takes a back seat to research at major research institutions. The Murdock grant will pay for a full-time coordinator to work directly with high schools on developing the curriculum and carrying out the research.