The Science of Saving Species at CRES - Summer Institute for High School Life Science Teachers

Conservation and Research for Endangered Species (CRES), the research arm of the Zoological Society of San Diego, is pleased to offer high school life science teachers from around the nation a unique research opportunity in Conservation Biology. The summer institutes at CRES are designed to help teachers bring true science issues and challenges into their classrooms and to provide them with new expertise and tools to enhance student learning. Institute activities are aligned with National Biology/Life Science Standards and will focus on headline scenarios in wildlife conservation such as Global Amphibian Decline, the recovery of the California condor, the Bushmeat Crisis, and conservation of biodiversity in San Diego County. Institutes run three full days and two nights and are offered twice a year (August 5th-7th and August 12th-14th).

Institute Objectives:
-- Bring teachers together with CRES researchers from various disciplines in laboratory and field settings to engage in conservation science activities. As participants in the institute, teachers will:

* take part in lectures and hands-on science activities focusing on fields of genetics, reproductive physiology and endocrinology, behavioral biology, pathology, applied animal ecology, botanical conservation, and evolutionary biology

* sleep in a tent at the Wild Animal Park, complete with campfire and safari photo caravan

* explore the flora and fauna of Coastal Sage Scrub habitat, the most endangered ecosystem in the nation, on the “back 900 acres” of the San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park

* receive a $500 stipend for full attendance


Eligibility Criteria:
To be eligible for participation in the institute, selected teachers must:

* be a current high school life science teacher

* be available to attend all three days of the institute (9am-5pm, August 5th-7th OR August 12th-14th), full day attendance required

* have access to transportation to CRES facilities at the Wild Animal Park in Escondido, CA (North San Diego County)

* be able to sleep in a tent at the Wild Animal Park! (nights of August 5th and 6th OR August 12th and 13th) NOTE: There is some hiking and walking involved in institute activities.

* have a genuine interest in the preservation of endangered species


Interested life science teachers are encouraged to download an application at http://www.cres.sandiegozoo.org. Application packets must be postmarked by Saturday, May 31st, 2008. Notifications will be made by Friday, June 13th.