Cancer Research Conference for Science Teachers draws educators from across Florida
Education programs led by radiation oncology professor expand
Oct. 23, 2023 — Over two days this July, nearly 100 science teachers from across the state converged at the University of Florida Health Cancer Center to hear about the latest leading-edge cancer research taking place at UF.
The free Cancer Research Conference for Science Teachers, in its fourth year, aims to build relationships with statewide educators to raise awareness and share information about cancer risk and prevention. Attendance has nearly tripled from the first year it was held, with educators hailing from 27 Florida counties this year.
The Cancer Center’s Cancer Training and Education Program has built on the success, incorporating a new interactive pre-conference activity for a small group of teachers this year and garnering support from AstraZeneca, which also sponsored the Cancer Center’s Cancer Research Symposium for High School Students in January. The theme of the 2023 teachers’ conference was “Interdisciplinary research — no boundaries.”
“We are delighted that we were able to reach more teachers from across Florida this year to help us fulfill our mission of educating and training the next generation of cancer researchers,” said Dietmar Siemann, Ph.D., the John P. Cofrin Professor for Research in the department of radiation oncology and the associate director for education and training at the Cancer Center. “We were proud to present a program that truly showcased the center’s multidisciplinary approach to cancer research, with presentations not only from biologists, but also from engineers, virologists and imaging experts.”
Research topics during the interactive sessions ranged from brain tumor immunotherapy to cardio-oncology. The conference also included a social event at the Hilton University of Florida Conference Center to allow the teachers to connect with UF faculty and trainees in a collegial setting. The Cancer Center reimburses teachers from outside of Alachua County for mileage and lodging to ensure cost is not a barrier for anyone to attend, allowing teachers from as far away as Miami to participate.
In July, nearly 100 science teachers from across the state visited the UF Health Cancer Center to hear about the latest leading-edge cancer research taking place.
Photo by Jesse S. Jones
This year, UF graduate students led the pre-conference escape room-themed activity that challenged teachers to unravel the genetic puzzle of colorectal cancer using agarose gel electrophoresis. For the first time this year, the center also recorded presentations to build a repository for future use.
Miguel Tirado, an eighth-grade science teacher who was preparing to transition in the fall to a new role as a high school chemistry and environmental science teacher in Orange County, attended the conference for the first time.
“As a teacher going into high school, I wanted to broaden my knowledge of topics like these so that I could transfer that to students, especially if it seems like they’re having that kind of interest getting ready for college,” he said. “I like the interdisciplinary approach with engineers, biologists and virologists. I know there will be a lot of applications.”
The presentations from UF graduate students, which included insights about their career paths in cancer research, were a highlight for many teachers.
“Students often don’t know about the different possibilities as far as careers go,” said Mary Fleming, who teaches ninth-grade biology and Advanced Placement environmental sciences and biology at Stanton College Preparatory School in Jacksonville. “I got a lot of new information to bring back to my students.”
