NHGRI Scientists Return to the Classroom For Second Annual National DNA Day

NHGRI Scientists Return to the Classroom For Second Annual National DNA Day

DNA Day Ambassadors Will Encourage Students to Pursue Genomic Careers

BETHESDA, Md., April 21, 2004 - On April 30, dozens of researchers and staff from the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) will head back to high schools in rural and urban communities across the country to share with students some of the exciting research taking place at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The presentations by NHGRI's "DNA Day Ambassadors" will coincide with the second annual celebration of National DNA Day, which commemorates the successful completion of the Human Genome Project in April 2003 and the discovery of DNA's double helix in 1953.

Many of the ambassadors will return to high schools in their hometowns, while some will reach out to other schools that have expressed interest in expanding their students' knowledge of genomic science. NHGRI, in cooperation with the American Society of Human Genetics, the Genetic Alliance and the National Society of Genetic Counselors, hopes that the DNA Day experience will inspire more students, particularly those from underrepresented and disadvantaged populations, to consider careers in genetics and genomics.

"As we embark on the genome era, we face an urgent need for a new generation of young scientists trained in everything from computer science to bioethics. National DNA Day is a wonderful opportunity for students to learn from real-life genome researchers how they too can become scientists and join in our effort to use genomics to improve human health," said NHGRI Director Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D.

Below is a state-by-state list of DNA Day Ambassadors and their schools. To arrange an interview with an ambassador, contact Geoff Spencer, (301) 402-0911.

NHGRI Ambassador High School City State Erin Tansey Luz Academy of Tucson Tuscon AZ Joseph Ward Wilson HS Los Angeles CA Kenneth Ow Oakland Technical HS Oakland CA Laura Rodriguez Junipero Serra HS Scripps Ranch HS San Diego CA Barbara Fuller School Without Walls HS Washington DC Alyssa Kennedy Benjamin Banneker HS Washington DC Tim Leshan Eastern Senior HS Washington DC Aideen McInerney-Leo Eastern Senior HS Washington DC Erin Peck Benjamin Banneker HS Washington DC James Whittle Maret School Washington DC Zhuang Hanyi Atlantic Community HS Delray Beach FL Milton English W. J. Woodham HS Pensacola FL Erica Sutton Woodward Academy College Park GA Christina Strong Jasper County HS Monticello GA Faith Pangilinan Columbus HS Waterloo IA David Miller Curie Metropolitan HS Chicago IL David Miller Northern Portage HS Portage IN Meredith Weaver Scituate HS Scituate MA Visiliki Tsipouri Southwestern HS Baltimore MD Alan Guttmacher Park HS Brooklandville MD JoAnne Mowczko Gaithersburg HS Gaithersburg MD Martin Mendoza Eleanor Roosevelt HS Greenbelt MD Mary Schueler Havre de Grace Havre de Grace MD Barbara Biesecker Wheaton HS Silver Spring MD Ashley Griffin Mounds View St. Paul Central HS Arden Hills St.Paul MN Jarrod Heck Minneapolis South HS Minneapolis MN Mary LaMarca John Marshall HS Mayo HS Rochester MN Caroline Stuart Blaine HS Blaine MN Belen Hurle St. Louis Career Academy St. Louis MO Jim Swyers Roosevelt HS St. Louis MO Sarah Anzick Browning HS Park HS Browning Livingston MT Phyllis Frosst James B. Dudley HS T. Wingate Andrews HS Greensboro High Point NC Shawn Burgess Concord HS St. Paul's School Concord NH Jonathon Witonsky Princeton HS Princeton NJ Erin Tansey Santa Fe Indian School Sante Fe NM Danielle Dong St. Ann Middle School Nyack NY Sandra Kamholz Westlake HS Thornwood NY Tricia Gasser Thomas Worthington HS Worthington OH Matthew Portnoy Bensalem HS William Tennent HS Bensalem Westminister PA Marie Cudoc Mars Area HS Mars PA Timothy Day Fort LeBoeuf HS Waterford PA Esther Warshauer-Baker Spring Valley HS Columbia SC Renee Varga Lennox HS Lennox SD Geoffroy Sisk Bennett County HS Martin SD Kate Reed Oakridge HS Oakridge TN Sarah Smith John B. Connally HS Austin TX Carmen Paguirigan Iowa Park HS Iowa TX Robert Cornelison E.C. Glass HS Brookville HS Lynchburg VA Suzanna Schott Annandale HS Annandale VA Lowell Umayam Fairfax HS Fairfax VA Tess Yannucci St. Stephen and St. Agnes Alexandria VA Emily Gottlieb The Bush School Cleveland HS Seattle WA Erin Jones Garfield HS West Seattle HS Seattle WA Elizabeth Gillanders St. Mary's Spring HS Fond du Lac WI Reid Prentice Cheyenne Central HS Cheyenne East HS Cheyenne WY

To help teachers and students make the most of National DNA Day, NHGRI also has developed free, educational tools on genetics and genomics, which are available at www.genome.gov/DNAday.

NHGRI is one of the 27 institutes and centers at the National Institutes of Health, an agency of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Additional information about NHGRI can be found at its Web site, www.genome.gov.

Contact:
Geoff Spencer, NHGRI
Phone: (301) 402-0911
E-mail: spencerg@mail.nih.gov