Penn Medicine Science Educator Recognized by Society for Developmental Biology

PHILADELPHIA — Jamie Shuda, EdD, director of life science outreach at the University of Pennsylvania's Institute for Regenerative Medicine (IRM), and coordinator of life science education at the Netter Center for Community Partnerships also at Penn, along with Steve Farber, PhD, Investigator, Embryology Department, Carnegie Institution for Science, Baltimore, have been awarded the Hamburger Outstanding Educator Prize from the Society for Developmental Biology (SBD).

Shuda and Farber run Project BioEYES, a K-12 science education program that provides classroom-based, hands-on learning using live zebrafish to teach about how cells and animals develop. The program is located within the Perelman School of Medicine, Penn; the Carnegie Institution; Notre Dame University in South Bend, IN; and Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, among others, and reaches over 9,000 students per year.

"I am honored that the Society for Developmental Biology has chosen me and Dr. Farber as the 2012 recipients of the Viktor Hamburger prize," says Shuda. "Project BioEYES exemplifies how scientists and educators can come together to teach cutting edge, exciting science to students of all ages. Collaboration across disciplines is greatly supported by Penn and the IRM and it is wonderful that the university is being recognized for their public engagement. Viktor Hamburger was a pioneer in both science and teaching and I hope our education programs inspire more scientists just like him."

With over 10 years of experience in public education, Dr. Shuda has worked with teachers, students, and university staff to develop innovative science curricula. Her research focuses on the role informal science education plays in developing an effective science curriculum in K-12 schools and the characteristics of successful university and community partnerships to enhance science education at the undergraduate level. At the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Shuda teaches Stem Cell Science in Schools: History, Ethics, and Education, which provides university and high school students with the opportunity to learn the science of stem cells while becoming deeply engaged with social and ethical issues relevant to everyday life. Dr. Shuda holds an MS.Ed and teaching certification from Drexel University and an Ed.D in education policy from Temple University.

Established in 2002 by the SDB Board of Directors in honor of Dr. Viktor Hamburger and sponsored by the Professional Development and Education Committee, this Hamburger award recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to developmental biology education. The recipients deliver a lecture at the Education Symposium of the SDB Annual Meetings.