Professional societies and genetics education for schools and universities: The experience of the American society of human genetics
Professional scientific societies have a vested interest in the improvement of science education at all levels, and especially at those levels outside the focus of practicing scientists and clinicians. During the last 15 years, the board, staff, and membership of the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) have committed the society to a series of programs to help improve teaching and learning of human genetics at the pre-college and college (university) levels. Those programs include: 1) a full-day, interactive workshop for local high school teachers and students held the day before ASHG’s annual meeting; 2) an extensive mentor network of ASHG members who volunteer in local schools; 3) a website that provides information about state science requirements to guide members and the society in their work in pre-college education; 4) published recommendations for teaching human genetics in introductory biology courses at the university level; and 5) beginning in 2006, workshops for university faculty, held in conjunction with the annual meeting. This presentation will review the assumptions behind those efforts, the content and structure of the programs, critical partnerships in the private and public sectors, costs to the society, barriers to implementation, and indications of success to date.