Biosciences Continuing Education:
Working to Support Growth in the Biosciences

A top priority is to support KU and the greater Kansas City area in the quest for national prominence in life sciences research.

The University of Kansas plays a vital role in this effort through its research in the biosciences and related fields. KU's broad-based basic and applied research in the biological sciences, pharmaceutical and medicinal chemistry, drug-delivery systems, medical sciences, and related research is essential to reaching the area's life science goals.

Kansas City seeks to become a national leader in biotechnology by making new discoveries in aging and related diseases, neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases, and cancer and infectious diseases. KU's research interests parallel these emphasis areas.

KU Continuing Education is positioned to play an important role in the life sciences. With ties to natural- and social science-based programs on the Lawrence campus, and nationally accredited programs for health professionals at KU Medical Center, Continuing Education has established relationships with leading bioscience researchers, both in and outside KU.

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Helping with Biosciences Growth in Four Ways

KU Continuing Education has four areas of focus in supporting the biosciences. These include workforce development for scientists and industry, creating visibility in biosciences for the region, stimulating children's interests in science, and general public education.

Workforce Development for Scientists and Industry
In fall 2004, Continuing Education, in partnership with the Higuchi Biosciences Center, received a prestigious National Science Foundation Partnership for Innovation grant that funds the development and delivery of workforce-training programs. Area biosciences companies identified their educational needs and are working with Continuing Education to develop customized short courses in analytical chemistry and molecular biosciences to meet these needs. Industry employees who take these courses will return to their labs with new and improved skills.

Visit this link for biosciences short course descriptions and registration information.

Creating Visibility for the Region
KU Continuing Education is working to enhance the visibility of the greater Kansas City area as a center of excellence in life/biosciences research. Continuing Education has developed a new campaign to attract life-sciences related meetings, conferences and symposia to the area. Dr. JoAnn Smith, vice provost for University outreach and dean of KU Continuing Education asserts, "We want to bring scientists from all over the nation and the world to Kansas City and this region to showcase our outstanding bioscience research capabilities."

Stimulating Children's Interest in Science
KU Continuing Education's 50-year-old Children's Reading Program stimulates school-aged children's awareness of the wonders of sciences. Children in grades 2–7 are awarded a prize when half of the twelve books they read are in life sciences. The goal is to captivate children at an early age and stimulate their interest in life-sciences careers.

Through the KU Duke Talent Identification Program (TIP), students in grades 8–12 participate in scholar weekends on the Lawrence campus. Bright young minds have the opportunity to experience the environment of a major university and begin to plan their future. Scholars participate in two days of intensive academic study in a variety of disciplines, including science and the life sciences.

General Public Education
Through the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, KU Continuing Education is building community awareness of biosciences research, medical advancements, quality of life, and economic development. The Institute offers participants programming in several "Communities of Learning." Through these communities participants join discussion groups before, during, and after classes take place. Two of these communities on life sciences are "Health and Well-Being" and "Science and Technology." Institute director, Marvin Hunt, wants Osher audiences to get an "up close and personal" view of the biosciences as top area researchers translate science into laymen's terms.

The KU Medical Center offers Saturday Morning at KU Med, a series of educational programs that are free to the public. These programs offer information on numerous topics of interest, including those relating to depression and heart health.

Continuing Education's full-service event management and marketing capabilities, plus its nationally accredited programs in medical and nursing education, help attract bioscience-related events to the Kansas City area.

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Biosciences Continuing Education: Working to Support Growth in the Biosciences

Biosciences Continuing Education:
Working to Support Growth in the Biosciences