Feature Story

The challenge in 1991 for top scientists at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas (UT Southwestern) did not involve test tubes, microscopes or beakers. Instead, UT Southwestern's best and brightest scientists were concerned about what they were not seeing in their labs - more young scientists. What was needed was a way to improve the quality of science education in Texas. The fastest
and most effective way to reach secondary-school students was through their teachers, they concluded. By reaching one teacher, every student whom that teacher taught could be affected.

From this idea was born the Science Teacher Access to Resources at Southwestern (STARS) program. It began as a small program with the Dallas Independent School District, but subsequent funding from public and private sources over the past decade has allowed the program to expand to serve more than 4,000 teachers, 20,000 students and 1,000 schools across the state, from Dallas to Laredo to El Paso. Twenty different, active programs are in place today, from summer research programs for students and teachers to in-service training for teachers and tours of biomedical laboratories for local classes.

The program is funded by the State of Texas, Verizon, and the Jan and Bob Bullock Distinguished Chair for Science Education, held by STARS director Dr. George Ordway, a professor of physiology at UT Southwestern. The chair, established with a $1 million gift in 2001, provides funding for the continued growth and outreach of STARS. STARS runs two summer research programs, one for science teachers and another for students interested in science. The teachers and students spend the summer doing research in some of UT Southwestern's top biomedical research laboratories and developing projects to share with other teachers and students.

For teachers, STARS also provides access to UT Southwestern's top-notch library and classroom videos and CD-ROMs on complicated scientific and medical topics. In-service sessions - free continuing education courses for Texas secondary-school teachers led by UT Southwestern faculty -- during the school year allow more direct interaction between teachers and scientists, with sessions on topics like cell interaction, muscle physiology and DNA.

Whitney High School teacher Bobby Pierce says a summer spent at UT Southwestern sparked his creativity and brought enthusiasm back to his teaching. In his classroom now, multicolored blocks represent fatty acids; students perform brain surgery using computer software; and the whole room can become a cell overnight for a lesson.

"STARS gave me more of a background in scientific research and more confidence outside of the classroom," the biology, anatomy and physiology teacher said. "I have to teach kids there's more to science than a worksheet. That's my greatest challenge."

Laredo teacher Roxanna Gaona spent a summer working in a UT Southwestern laboratory. STARS broadened her experiences, she said, making textbook lessons a reality.

"I know more now about what is expected, and I plan to emphasize DNA, protein syntheses and other developments more," she said. "I needed to know more about what is out there so I can give my students a leg up in the competition in their pursuit of a medical career."

Students also benefit from STARS' multifaceted program. At the STARS Web site, www.utsouthwestern.edu/stars, for example, they can participate in an ethics debate. UT Southwestern ethicists post a problematic situation on the site, allow students to discuss the scenario both in their own classrooms and online, and then comment on the students' reactions.

The STARS program also annually leads hundreds of children on medical center tours examining specialized topics like anesthesiology, DNA microarrays or neuroimaging with lots of hands-on demonstrations. A mentoring program allows high school students to team up with graduate and medical students at UT Southwestern, and two-way video conferencing equipment is available for distance education to remote locations. Many UT Southwestern faculty members also serve as science ambassadors, making themselves available to travel to area schools.

STARS leaders are already seeing individual success stories, as some area students who came through the STARS program are now pursuing science or medical careers. Drawing more Texas children into science remains a demanding task, but STARS is well on the way to meeting the challenge.