North Carolina DNA day was created to commemorate the completion of the Human Genome Project in 2003 and the discovery of DNA’s double helix in 1953. Our mission is to build a bridge between NC’s leading research institutions and high school science classrooms to promote and enhance science education in our state. This is facilitated through matching an NC scientist with an NC high school science teacher and creating an opportunity for the scientist to share their experiences and passion for science with that teacher’s classroom. This allows high school students to acquire knowledge about scientific issues important to their society and world, and also sparks an interest in science, and potentially scientific careers. Our vision is to reach as many school across North Carolina as possible with an emphasis on serving schools that have limited exposure to career scientists. It is our pledge to focus our efforts toward cultivating the minds of the next generation of scientific leaders for the United States and global communities.
There are several initiatives under the NC DNA Day umbrella:
- NC DNA Day: This was the original event that the program is named for. DNA Day is a single day, usually scheduled in the spring semester, on which volunteers travel to high school classrooms to give hands-on science demonstrations to students.
- NC DNA Day CONNECT: Classrooms that participate in the CONNECT program have a scientist ambassador that not only visits in-person on DNA Day, but also participates in interactive video sessions with students throughout the school year. CONNECT classrooms have the opportunity to get to know a scientist, learn about science as a career, and have input from that scientist on the things they learn all year long. If you are a teacher interested in finding a CONNECT ambassador for your classroom, or a researcher interested in getting involved, email us at ncdnaday@unc.edu for more information.
- NC DNA Day Blog: The NC DNA Day Blog is an offshoot of the NC DNA Day Program that is focused on written science communication. Our contributors are graduate students and postdoctoral trainees from universities all over North Carolina, including UNC Chapel Hill, East Carolina University, and Duke. Topics covered in blog posts are chosen by our writers, who come from many different scientific backgrounds and departments across these institutions. The result is an array of posts that reflect what today’s young scientists in North Carolina are most excited to share with you!
NC DNA Day Objectives
- To educate students of North Carolina about cutting-edge facets of genetics and genomics that are relevant to their lives and to society
- To introduce students to a young scientist which demystifies a career path that many students have not encountered or thought possible for them
- To support North Carolina science teachers and reinforce their lessons and North Carolina EOC standards
- To build relationships between major research entities of our state and public school classrooms
- To nurture a desire for service and outreach in our young scientist ambassadors that will continue throughout their careers