New activities!
Bioenergy Institute Application Deadline May 3!
Request for Feedback
Upcoming Events and Professional Development Opportunities

New activities
Two activities developed by teachers from the RET program 2009-2010

Bioprospecting for Cellulose-Degrading Microbes: 
This high school-college level activity screens for cellulase-producing microbes from environmental samples of the students’ choice.  Students prepare samples, isolate microbes on selective media, and screen for cellulase activity.  Two methods are provided, one focusing on isolation of pure microbial strains, the other on finding symbiotic communities of microbes.

Field Investigations: Biomass Yield and Carbon Cycling These activities allow students to measure above-ground biomass, root productivity and soil microbial activity as a way to investigate the role of biofuels in the overall carbon cycle. Appropriate for students from middle school to undergraduate level, studies can be done on existing biofuel plots, natural sites or school gardens.

Bioenergy Institute Application Deadline May 3!

Bioenergy Institute for Educators (UW):  an 8 day program focused on the process of creating biofuels and evaluating sustainability of different methods.  Run jointly with the Wisconsin Fast Plants program with an emphasis on inquiry instruction at the secondary level.  Teams encouraged to apply.  Stipend provided.  Slots are filling up, apply soon!

Request for Feedback

Have you used the life cycle assessment walkthrough activity in your classroom?  If so, please contact Sara Krauskopf skrauskopf@glbrc.wisc.edu or 608-263-0809  We’d like more direct comments from teachers on how that activity works in practice.  Thank you!

Upcoming Events and Professional Development Opportunities

Other events:  For details on the events below, please visit our website calendar.

• June 18-19—Midwest Renewable Energy Fair, Custer, WI
• June 21-25—GK-12 Program, Kellogg Biological Station, Hickory Corners, MI
• June 29--Wisconsin Association of Agriculture Educators.  Middleton, WI

We encourage you to visit our website at least once a month to look for new materials we have posted. 
http://www.greatlakesbioenergy.org/education/

Feel free to contact us with questions or feedback at education@glbrc.wisc.edu or call 608-890-2828.  If you know others who would like to be added to this list, please send us their contact information including name, e-mail address, institutional affiliation, city, state and day-time phone number.