Ten high school biology teachers spent a week immersed in cutting-edge research at Indiana University Bloomington this June through the Biology Summer Institute (BSI@IU), a professional development program hosted by the Department of Biology.
Working alongside IU faculty and their research teams, participants gained real-world laboratory experience, explored current research topics and developed innovative lessons they can bring back to their high school classrooms.
Coordinated by Biology Outreach staff Jean Lennon, Jason Winters, and Rita Stephens, BSI@IU has become a longstanding partnership between IU researchers and high school educators.
The week-long institute paired teachers from Indiana schools with faculty mentors and research teams working in microbiology, evolution, cell biology and genetics and developmental biology. This year's participating labs were led by faculty members Clay Fuqua, Gail Hardy, Cris Ledón-Rettig, Erik Ragsdale and Julia van Kessel.
“I think it is essential to get students involved and curious about science when they are younger,” said Gail Hardy, associate research scientist. “What better way to do this than through their teachers in their own classroom.”
Hardy said, “I always love to see the teachers learn about the research and then actually get to do it in the laboratory. It is great when they get excited about their results and can see the benefits of how the experiments can add value to their course work.”
Although most of the week is spent in the laboratory, teachers also gain a broader view of biological research by attending faculty seminars and touring the department’s research and instrumentation facilities.
Teachers receive a stipend, supplies for their classroom, optional campus housing, and 40 hours of professional development credit that can be used for license renewal. No prior lab experience is necessary.
For Kate Faust, who teaches biology, zoology, animal behavior and environmental science at Kankakee Valley High School, the experience made her realize how many research opportunities are available for students.
As a field biologist by training, Faust said it was eye opening for her to be in the lab and see the techniques and methods put into research. “I really learned how to translate that higher-level research into activities that are appropriate for my students that will not only teach them specific techniques but will also hopefully get them excited about science and how it can fit into their future career plans.”
Alli Gootee, who teaches biology and Project Lead the Way Biomedical Science at Whiteland Community High School, said the opportunity allowed her to learn about new collegiate programs, modern research and how to better prepare her students for possible careers in science.
“I feel like this experience has made me a stronger teacher and now I have the ability to make better connections between content and ‘real life’ for my students,” Gootee said.
On the final day of the institute, teachers present the lessons they developed during the week and leave with new classroom resources, faculty connections and research-based activities they can immediately implement with their students. Faculty mentors also remain in contact throughout the year to provide ongoing guidance and laboratory-specific materials (e.g., fruit flies, bacterial strains).
The 2026 Biology Summer Institute was supported by the IU Department of Biology, the IU College of Arts and Sciences, the National Science Foundation and the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County.
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