The South Carolina Center for Biotechnology

Summer Teacher Institute Program

The Summer Teacher Institute is a two week training session specifically designed for middle and high school science educators in Orangeburg and Calhoun Counties’ public school districts.

To ensure a well-trained pool of labor in the fast-growing field of biotechnology in our state and region, Claflin University has partnered with Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College, The Regional Medical Center of Orangeburg and Calhoun Counties, Zeus, Inc., Albemarle Corporation and others to form the Orangeburg-Calhoun Area Biotechnology Consortium (OCABC). The goal of OCABC is to recruit and train a highly qualified biotechnology workforce (including under represented minorities) in the targeted industries of agriculture, criminal justice (forensics), health/life sciences, engineering and instrumentation technology.

Through funding from the US Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration, Claflin University was given the opportunity to offer this exciting Summer Teacher Institute to the educators of our future biotech workforce. During this institute you will receive hands on and interactive training to enhance your knowledge about the rapidly expanding biotechnology field and learn how to incorporate biotech learning objectives into your existing curriculum. In addition, this summer institute will provide you with the necessary tools to train your students in this field and to raise students’ awareness and interest in the numerous academic and employment opportunities that biotechnology has to offer.