Biotech 101: an educational outreach program in genetics and biotechnology

Area of Science:

• Genetics and Genomics
• Biotechnology Education
• Public Health Literacy

Background:

• Genetics and genomics are increasingly impacting public health and policy decisions.
• Enhanced genetic literacy is crucial for informed decision-making by the general public.
• Limited evidence exists on effective public educational strategies in genetics and biotechnology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of the Biotech 101 course in increasing genetic literacy.
• To measure changes in self-perceived knowledge and the impact of the course on participants' lives.

Main Methods:

• A free short-course, Biotech 101, was offered by the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology.
• Pre- and post-surveys assessed participants' self-perceived knowledge and the course's impact.
• The study included 392 participants across the first three course offerings.

Main Results:

• Participants reported a significant increase in self-perceived knowledge across all content areas (p < 0.01).
• The program demonstrated high levels of impact on participants' lives and decision-making.
• Participants reported high satisfaction, a likelihood for continued self-learning, and positive course experiences.

Conclusions:

• Biotech 101 is an effective educational program for enhancing genetic literacy in the community.
• The course positively impacts participants' lives and decision-making, serving as a scalable model.
• Further research into public educational strategies for genetics and biotechnology is warranted.