Partnering Scientists and Educators
The Science Education Partnership (SEP) exemplifies a true partnership between scientists and educators. Since 1991, SEP has paired research scientists with over 580 secondary school science teachers in Washington state. We believe that teachers and scientists both play a crucial role in promoting a greater understanding of biomedical research in our community and have much to offer one another. Through workshops and a summer professional development program , teachers learn molecular biology techniques and participate in laboratory research. SEP also helps mentor scientists refine their teaching skills and enhance their ability to communicate science to the broader community. SEP also has a strong commitment to equity and justice in science education.
Teacher Professional Development
SEP is available to all secondary science teachers in Washington state who are interested in learning more about molecular biology and want to bring the latest life sciences research into the classroom.
Scientific Mentoring
Scientists from Fred Hutch and other nearby research institutes are eligible to serve as mentors, including graduate students, post-docs, technicians and other scientific staff.
Register to become an SEP mentor!
Curriculum and Lessons
Our free, nationally recognized open-source lessons and units are geared towards high school biotech and biology teachers and focus on giving students opportunities to explore biotechnology and the social dimensions of research science.
About the SEP Program
Each spring, mentor scientists from Fred Hutch and partner research sites select teachers from the applicant pool to participate. Teachers and mentor scientists collaborate to design a research experience tailored to the teacher’s interests. The diversity of research projects over the past several years has included such topics as protein structure, DNA sequencing, yeast genetics, fruit fly development, and oncogenes. After participating and completing the Summer Session, teachers have access to SEP's Kit Loan Program, including complete lesson plans and all the biotechnology equipment, reagents and supplies needed to turn their classrooms into labs. Technical and scientific support is also readily available from program staff and scientists at the Hutch.
This arrangement often leads to partnerships that extend beyond the summer session, including classroom visits by scientists during the school year. These partnerships often help dispel some of the stereotypes commonly held concerning scientists and teachers.
To get updates on our programs and teaching resources, sign up for our mailing list.
Videos by SEP
Video: How do mRNA vaccines work?
To understand how mRNA vaccines work, we need to understand mRNA's role in our body. This animation highlights how scientists utilized the function of mRNA to create this new type of vaccine.
This video was created by Fred Hutch Cancer Center Science Education Partnership (SEP) in partnership with Arkitek Scientific with narration by a previous Fred Hutch student intern, Yusuf H.
The SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Confidence Project aims to develop resources related to inspiring vaccine confidence in partnership with the COVID-19 Prevention Network (CoVPN) and the Fred Hutch/ UW Office of Community Outreach & Engagement.
SEP Kit Loan Program Featured Video
SEP 30th Anniversary Video and Program Overview Video
Upcoming SEP Events
SEP yEVO Workshop
Recent SEP Papers and Publications
Chowning, J. T. (2023). “We All Sort of Jump to That Relationship Piece”: Science Teachers’ Collaborative Professional Learning about the Role of Relationships in Argumentation. Cognition and Instruction, 1–36. https://doi.org/10.1080/07370008.2023.2180006
Osuga, H., Foster, J., Chowning, J.T. (2022). How can DNA help exonerate those wrongly convicted? Flipping a traditional DNA crime lab to center issues of social justice. The Science Teacher, 89(6), 20-28.
Chowning, J. T. (2022). Science teachers in research labs: Expanding conceptions of social dialogic dimensions of scientific argumentation. Journal of Research in Science Teaching. https://doi.org/10.1002/tea.21760
Lalish KM, Stromholt S, Curtis N, Chowning JT. (2021). Explorers Virtual Internship: Fostering Rightful Presence and Sense of Belonging in an Online High School Internship Program. J STEM Outreach. 2021;4(2). doi: 10.15695/jstem/v4i2.07. Epub 2021 Jul 19. PubMed PMID: 34485852; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC8415770.
Chowning, J. T., Wu, R., Brinkema, C., Crocker, W. D., Bass, K., & Lazerte, D. (2019). A NEW Twist on DNA Extraction: Collaborative argumentation and student protocol design. The Science Teacher, 86(6), 20-27. PMC6656384
Wu, R., Brinkema, C., Peterson, M., Waltzer, A., Chowning, J. T. (2018). STEAM Connections: Painting with Bacteria. The American Biology Teacher. 80(4), 297-299. doi: https://doi.org/10.1525aabt.2018.80.4.297
NIH-funded Programs
Thank You to Our Funders
In addition to the support from Fred Hutch, SEP’s work is made possible in part by the National Institutes of Health (NIH): Frontiers in Cancer Research (R25 GM129842), a Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA) from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), and Pathways to Cancer Research (R25CA221770), a Youth Enjoy Science Award (YES/CURE), from the National Cancer Institute (NCI).
Additional donors and supporters help ensure the continued vitality of SEP, allowing science teachers to bring new science techniques and practices to their students. Together, we are cultivating the next generation of cancer researchers and are ensuring a broader understanding of, and support for, scientific research.
Recent Sponsors
Our recent efforts were generously funded in part by:
Muckleshoot Indian Tribe
Dean Witter Foundation
Inspirus Credit Union
MilliporeSigma
The Trudy Stack Endowment
The STRAWS Foundation
ZymoGenetics/Bristol Myers Squibb
Kit Loan Program Supporters
We acknowledge donations of materials to support our Kit Loan Program from:
Fischer Scientific
New England/Biolabs
SurModics/BioFX
Promega
Rainin
Roche
Scientific Volunteers
Scientists have also provided support through their time and effort, including those from partner organizations. Partner organizations include:
Center for Infectious Disease Research
Pacific Northwest Research Institute
Seattle Children’s Hospital Research Institute
University of Washington Department of Genome Sciences
University of Washington/Fred Hutch Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program
University of Washington School of Medicine