National DNA Day Awards: 2011

National DNA Day Awards: 2011

The National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) and the Education and Community Involvement Branch have created small-funding opportunities for groups to create National DNA Day programs in their community.

For National DNA Day 2011, three DNA Day Small Awards were made to:

• DNA: Key to Diversity in Animals and People Festival
• Orlando Science Center
• DNA Day On Demand

DNA: Key to Diversity in Animals and People Festival

Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and the University of Nebraska Medical Center have teamed up to create a two day DNA festival designed to reach K-12 students and the general public. This DNA festival will highlight advances in genomic science, appreciation of genetic diversity, understanding of genetic disease, progress in genetic technologies, and awareness of the impact of conservation genetics. A team of researchers from the Zoo and Medical Center will be present to showcase their career paths and studies. Special presentations will be given by National Institute of Health scientists. DNA: Key to Diversity in Animals and People Festival is April 29-30, 2011 at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo.

Orlando Science Center (OSC)

DNA Day is a celebration of the genetic discovery and application, culminating in an all-day event for families and school students. From the murky swamps of NatureWorks and the playful world of KidsTown to the awe-inspiring skeletons in DinoDigs, the entire science center is transformed, with each exhibit hall offering its own unique contribution to understanding DNA!

Tour a brand-new gallery exhibition of DNArt, and meet the individual artists who poured their blood, sweat, and cheek swabs into these priceless and personal portraits. Add your own imprint to OSC's real-time, always growing virtual DNA Helix! Create genetic jewelry, including codon bracelets and the ultimate ID badge: your own DNA pendants. Learn about the diversity of life--and the surprising similarities in the blueprints of living things. For one incredible day the Orlando Science Center spells the world with four little letters.

North Carolina DNA Day On Demand

In 2006, Francis Collins visited the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and communicated the message about National DNA Day. In response, our graduate students replicated this message and transcribed Dr. Collins vision in North Carolina. This message translated to North Carolina DNA Day, a day where our graduate students become DNA Day ambassadors and visit classrooms across North Carolina; exposing students to cutting-edge science that's relevant to their lives and building relationships between scientists and high school students and teachers. Four years later, North Carolina DNA Day ambassadors continue to reach more and more classrooms each year, yet there are still hundreds of North Carolina classrooms and thousands of students we cannot reach. .

To address these challenges and push the reach and effectiveness of our North Carolina DNA Day initiative forward, we will collaborate with the North Carolina Center for Public Television (UNC-TV) to produce our DNA Day classroom modules and facilitate the consistent availability of these lessons and supporting material online. Our DNA Day modules (currently covering Forensics, Immunology, Pharmaco-genomics, and Genetic Diseases), plus much more, will be offered "ON DEMAND" to teachers, as they need it. North Carolina DNA Day ON DEMAND will allow us to replicate our message, increase our impact, and reach a broader audience.