WABR - Education Materials

'Biomedical Breakthroughs and My Life'
Essay and Poster Contest

Open to 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students
in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana

2005 Introductory Letter to teachers (pdf or word)
2005 Teacher Entry Guidelines (pdf or word)

Teachers-please indicate your intent to participate by December 1, 2004 if possible!
Students may enter either with a class or individually.

Contest Poster pdf (11x17 color . 8.5x11 color . 8.5x11 black/white)
Past Winners

The 2005 contest asks students to focus on how research has impacted, or has the potential to impact, someone they personally know. This could include describing the development of veterinary treatments (pets), or the process by which commonly used drugs are developed.

Entries should address the importance of biomedical research and how animal models and/or human clinical trials contribute to medical breakthroughs.

Possible topics: · Prenatal medicine · Stem cell research · Organ transplantation · Treatments for particular diseases (diabetes, cystic fibrosis) · Research on physical effects of illegal drugs · Vaccinations · Animal medicine (pets) · Medications: Steroids, Prozac, Ritalin, Antibiotics

Cash Awards Categories:

Essay and Poster
ELL (English Language Learner) Essay and ELL Poster

First prize - $150, Second prize - $100, Third prize - $50
Regional winners will receive $50 each

Winners will participate in a hands-on 'Scientist for a Day Program' Awards program at a local research institution
Photo Collage of 2004 Awards Day (pdf)

Regional winners will be announced for the following areas:
Western Washington, Oregon & Southwestern Washington, and Inland Northwest (Central Washington, Eastern Washington & Idaho, and Montana)

Deadline for Entry: March 18th, 2005
Winners Announced: April 2005

Thanks to R and R research, Northwest Girls Collaborative Project at the Puget Sound Center for Teaching, Learning, and Technology, for their support of the contest!

Special thanks to the Medtronic Foundation for their support of the development of the ELL component of the contest.

Helpful Resources

Students who are researching for the contest should visit our About Biomedical Research section.

Helpful NWABR Resources for teachers implementing the contest in their classes:

NWABR Speakers' Bureau – Researchers, clinicians, veterinarians and patients are available for personal interviews or classroom presentations on a wide range of topics in biomedical research.

Saving Lorenzo – This lesson plan is designed to integrate the contest into your curriculum and meet the requirements of the EALRs. It was developed by a teacher who used the contest in her classroom and is available from the NWABR office or in electronic form from the NWABR website.

Be sure to visit our Resources section for additional resources.

For more information, contact:
Jeanne Chowning
Education Manager
Northwest Association for Biomedical Research
206.956.3647

NWABR is a 501(c)3 organization. All contributions are tax deductible.
The NWABR web site was made possible by funding from the National Center for Research
Resources and the National Institutes of Health through a Science Education Partnership Award.