Search MnSTA

FDA Professional Development Program in Food Science

The following is information about a wonderful, fully funded, professional development opportunity for teachers.

Foodborne disease outbreaks and food recalls frequent the news. What organisms cause these diseases? What can an individual do to protect themselves from these diseases? What measures are being taken by the federal government to prevent transmission of these diseases?

Teachers have an opportunity to provide inquiry-based lessons related to these outbreaks, recalls, and nutrition.  Lessons can be found in the curriculum Science and Our Food Supply developed jointly by FDA and NSTA. And, in order to prepare teachers to use these lessons, FDA provides a free multidimensional professional development program that will take place July 12 – 18, 2020 in Washington, DC. Included in the program is transportation to and from Washington and all housing and meal expenses.

During the program, the selected teachers will participate in activities such as the following - meet with FDA and USDA scientists to learn about their current research on foodborne diseases and nutrition; work with instructors to learn proper techniques to use in doing all the labs with their own students; and, tour USDA’s farm in Beltsville, MD.

Selected teachers are asked to implement the supplemental curriculum in their classrooms during the 2020 - 2021 school year and to do a hands-on workshop on the curriculum for other teachers.

To apply on line – deadline April 24, 2020- go to:   http://www.teachfoodscience.org/apply.asp

The Science and Our Food Supply curriculum guides on which the summer program is based are available from this website - https://www.fda.gov/food/students-teachers/science-and-our-food-supply#food_safety.  We strongly suggest you review these guides before applying for the summer workshop.

For more information, contact Mimi Cooper at mimcooper63@gmail.com