Key Programs

EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH

Explore the full range of educational resources available at the Education portion of our site.

Our educational outreach programs include:

• Speakers' Bureau - A statewide program funded by the National Center for Research Resources at the National Institutes of Health and the National Institute of Drug Abuse. Over 150 speakers are available on topics ranging from AIDS research to the effects of drugs and alcohol on the brain. Speakers can tailor their presentations to a wide range of audiences including: service clubs, businesses, religious groups, educational institutions, health care and voluntary health organizations.
• Ethics Workshop and Curriculum for Teachers - The Ethics in the Science Classroom workshop provides educators with exemplary instructional materials and strategies to teach bioethics. Teachers actively participate in model classroom activities and provocative interactions with science professionals, and acquire tools needed to effectively engage students in critical discussions about bioethical issues. The workshop addresses the recommendations in the Washington State Essential Academic Learning Requirements and the National Science Education Standards through classroom practices that foster critical thinking and promote understanding of the fundamental relationship between science and citizenship.
• Essay Contest for Middle School - NWABR offers 'Biomedical Breakthroughs and my Life', an essay contest for middle school students that helps raise awareness of impact of research on their lives. The contest features awards totaling more than $1,000. Winners are invited to visit to a local research institution.
• Student Bio Expo - The Student Bio Expo is a unique science fair that engages over 300 high school students in creative ways to demonstrate their understanding of biotechnology and biomedicine, and supports their access to resources in the scientific community.

SUPPORT OF THE RESEARCH COMMUNITY

For a full description of our member services, please visit the Benefits and Services portion of our site, or contact us. Some of the services NWABR provides for the research community include: From bench to bedside NWABR connects investigators, regulatory officials and compliance professionals with each other and experts from local and national agencies to promote safe, ethical research benefiting humans and animals.

• Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee 
  • Regional Education Conference brings together IACUC staff, administrators, veterinarians and lab technicians to review and discuss IACUC responsibilities, regulations and insights into issues related to research with animals.

• Human Subjects Research
  • Regional Conference equips institutional review and compliance officials with the tools necessary to protect the safety and dignity of individuals participating in research studies and clinical trials.

Safeguarding and protecting the Northwest research community is an essential role played by NWABR to insure the future of medical discovery.

• The Security Network links facilities and communications managers across our member institutions to identify a priority issue, select the community and national leaders and gather to share lessons learned from our own experience.
• Inoculating Life Science Firms against Internal Security Threats brings together experts from around the Northwest to discuss applicant screening, new employee orientation, continuing staff education, and lessons learned by their peers.

NWABR empowers individuals and society to make informed decisions about biomedical research by building understanding about the research process and fostering confidence and pride in our research community.

• NWABR offers 'At Ease with the Media', one of many media related programs that brings together researchers and communications professionals to strengthen their public communication skills, increase media savvy, learn how to communicate with non-scientific audiences.