Education

Something Fishy Going On

By Rachel Gang — August 01, 2008 1 min read
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When biologist Dr. Steven Farber visits the classroom, students see organs forming and red blood cells pumping out from zebra fish. According to The New York Times, Farber brings genetics lessons to students in inner-city schools through his nonprofit organization BioEYES, which he began in 2001.

One of the first people Farber hired to work with him was former 3rd grade teacher, Jamie Shuda. Shuda taught Farber how to reach students at their level on the subject of biology . “I’d advise anyone who wants to start a project like this to work with a professional teacher. That’s key,” he says. Making science fun is definitely a priority for Farber, but he does more than teach. In his week long visits, he also identifies children with a talent for science in order to place them in magnet schools.

Most weeks end on a high note—students grasp the material and they write to thank him. Noted one youngster from Philadelphia, “Hope being a scientist is not boring because I want to be one.”

A version of this news article first appeared in the Web Watch blog.