Live Virtual Workshops

We are excited to take our professional development virtual! You can earn CEUs in multiple ways while learning a range of topics to help you plan for instruction, whether remote, in person, or somewhere in between.


  • Baxter Box @ Home: Genes in Space with miniPCR
    Through this interactive virtual workshop, teachers will learn strategies for integrating Genes in Space into the classroom and familiarize themselves with the same tools astronauts use to carry out Genes in Space experiments on the ISS. Please complete the Baxter Box @ Home Application by September 6th at 11:59pm. (Learn More)

  • Science Course Meetups
    Let’s get together virtually and plan! We know teachers work best when they work together. Since teachers don’t always have a course team to work with we’re providing the space and resources for teachers across the Chicago area to get together and talk about teaching this fall. Topics include Biotech, Forensics & Criminology, and Middle School Science. (Learn More)

  • Science Talks
    We’ve heard over and over from teachers that they love hearing about cutting edge research because it reinvigorates their love for science. To keep that passion going, once a month we will invite a scientist or educational researcher to speak with us about something from their field. A short talk will be followed with Q&A. (Learn More)

On Demand Virtual Workshops

Earn continuing education credits (in IL) for watching bite-sized professional learning videos on your own time! Here’s how it works:


  1. Watch the video.
  2. Write and submit a reflection on how what you watched could be used with your students.
  3. Complete and submit an ISBE evaluation!
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Baxter Box Program


Introducing the Baxter Box@Home Demo Kit program!

If you have ever attended a workshop with us, you are eligible to borrow a demo version of our Baxter Boxes. You will receive a single set of equipment (e.g. 1 of each size pipette, 1 gel box, 1 thermocycler) and an entire classroom set of lab reagents (e.g. PCR supplies for 8 lab groups) to play around with at home.

Learn More

Our Work in the Chicagoland Area

1193
Total teachers trained
882
Baxter Box lab kits distributed
819
Chicago Public School teachers trained
since 2009
100,920
estimated students reached
292
Total schools reached
179
Chicago Public Schools reached
The BCSE allows teachers to stay up to date with the advancement of technology in science. By helping the teachers stay up to date and by providing activities that can be implanted into the classroom, it allows the future generation to have exposure to new developments in biotechnology at a young age. This hopefully will inspire the students to pursue careers in science.
Neshell Graham, Teacher @ Curie Metropolitan High School
The BCSE helps out teachers who teach at schools with limited resources get the resources and instructive know how they otherwise would not be able to obtain.
Jason Holmes, Teacher @ Roberto Clemente High School
Holy moly, this center is GREAT! I appreciate your outreach, enthusiasm, and expertise. It is really amazing to have this kind of access to a research institution and you are all so helpful in making this type of science accessible to our students.
Aparna Puppala, Teacher @ Glenbrook South High School

Our Team

Emily Ferrin, Ph.D.
Program Director & Resident Scientist
Baxter Center for Science Education
Ashley Walter, M.S.
Program & Partnership Coordinator
Baxter Center for Science Education
Natalie Bueno, B.S.
Program & Partnership Coordinator
Baxter Center for Science Education
Amy D. Pratt, Ph.D.
Assistant Dean for Community Education Partnerships
School of Education and Social Policy
Sachin Pradhan M.S.
Software Developer
Office of Community Education Partnerships
Emily DePalma, M.Ed.
Manager of Programs and Operations
Office of Community Education Partnerships
Jennifer Richards Ph.D.
Research Assistant Professor
School of Education and Social Policy
Natalie Turner
Administrative Aid
Office of Community Education Partnerships