Genes, the Environment, and ME (GEM)

简介（申请人提供）：华盛顿大学（UW）基因组科学系提出了一个为期五年的项目，基因，环境和我（GEM）。该项目将通过一个以学校和社区为重点的科学教育项目，解决在不同人群中更深入地了解生物医学研究的迫切需求，并增加在生物医学领域中代表性不足的少数民族的代表性。该项目将与西澳大学少数民族事务和多样性办公室、西澳大学生态遗传学和环境健康中心、西澳大学和华盛顿其他生物医学研究机构的科学家和伦理学家合作开展。GEM将采用基于社区的参与式研究方法，让社区成员——教师、学生、家长和社区领导人——作为平等的伙伴参与规划、制定和实施项目活动。通过这些合作伙伴关系，我们将开发一系列模块化课程，重点关注生物学的基本概念-基因和环境在决定所有生物特征中的相互作用。这些课程将用于补充健康和科学课程，这些课程为华盛顿和美国其他地区代表性不足的K-12学生提供服务。此外，家庭科学节将让学生、教师、家庭和社区在非正式的全体年龄庆祝活动中学习有关遗传概念和健康状况的知识。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The Department of Genome Sciences at the University of Washington (UW) proposes a five year project, Genes, the Environment, and Me (GEM). This project will address the pressing need for deeper understanding of biomedical research among diverse populations and increased representation of underrepresented minorities in biomedical fields through a school and community-focused science education program. The project will be conducted in collaboration with three programs within the UW Office of Minority Affairs and Diversity, the UW Center for Ecogenetics and Environmental Health, and scientists and ethicists at the UW and other biomedical research institutions throughout Washington. GEM will use a Community-Based Participatory Research Approach to involve community members-teachers, students, parents, and community leaders-as equal partners in planning, developing, and implementing project activities. Through these partnerships, we will develop a series of modular lessons focused on a fundamental concept of biology-the interaction of genes and the environment in the determination of traits in all living organisms. The lessons will be used to supplement health and science programs that serve underrepresented K-12 students throughout Washington and other parts of the United States. In addition, Family Science Festivals will involve students, teachers, families, and the community in learning about genetic concepts and health-related conditions in an informal all- age celebration. GEM will work primarily with school districts in the Yakima Valley, a rural agricultural region in central Washington with a high percentage of Hispanic and Native American students, many from high poverty families with limited English proficiency and low educational attainment levels. Complex diseases (i.e. those caused a combination of genetic and environmental factors) such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and cancer are important health problems for Hispanic and Native American people, making the teaching of gene- environment interactions an especially compelling topic for this population. GEM will focus primarily on middle and high school students and their teachers to promote deeper understanding of genetic concepts, including how genes and the environment interact to determine traits. Engagement in genetics activities and discussions of ethical issues that affect individuals and society will help students to formulate ideas about their own identity, attitudes, and interests, including career interests. Washington's teaching and learning standards require teachers to incorporate genetic concepts at these grade levels, and therefore they are eager to have well designed lessons to supplement their curriculum. Exposing students, particularly those from traditionally underrepresented communities, to linked career options may encourage some to pursue advanced studies in science and math and ultimately a career in a biomedical field.