Workshop Offerings
Biotechnology Workshop
WSU Spokane CityLab staff have been offering day-long hands-on biotechnology workshops for groups of middle and high school students since 1995. The workshop typically runs from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and is conducted on the Riverpoint Campus in Spokane, WA. Outlying schools who are unable to bring their students to Spokane can contact Dr. Oliver to arrange a school-based workshop. Workshops are offered at no cost to public and private school groups.
The workshop consists of three hands-on labs designed to help the student understand basic biotechnology principles including: (1) understanding how electrophoresis equipment works (Electrophoresis Exploration); (2) learning how to make agarose gels and accurately pipette minute quantities of materials (The Dye Lab); and (3) bringing all their knowledge and skills together to analyze DNA samples using agarose gel electrophoresis (The DNA Lab). A middle school experience typically is a half-day workshop and only includes The Dye Lab.
Maximum class size: 24
All students are required to have their parents or guardians sign a WSU Assumption of Risk Form (required by Washington State University). When your school schedules a visit, we will send forms as well as information about WSU Spokane CityLab that students can share with their parents or guardians.
The following are the three workshop labs for teacher review prior to the workshop. Many teachers have also found it useful for students to receive some type of credit for this experience to encourage more focused participation.