BioNetwork’s STEM Outreach Team is available to support your school and programs with FREE resources! Some examples include no-cost lab and classroom visits, hands-on vertical alignment PD hosted for grades 6-16 educators, curriculum materials, and more.
Our coordinators will come to your life science classes and deliver an engaging hands-on lab experience tailored to your curriculum. We have sets of equipment for classes and a variety of lessons that put a fresh spin on traditional laboratory exercises. View our STEM Lab Activities List and Request a Visit today! If you'd like for us to customize an activity for your classroom, please note that in your request.
Priority Visits
Our programs are funded by the State of North Carolina and are offered to the public at no cost. As a small team, we serve all 100 counties and all 58 community colleges in the state. We prioritize schools and organizations in rural and economically disadvantaged areas. Additionally, schools and organizations that we have not yet visited during the school year will receive priority over those that we have already paid a visit.
Labs Requiring Specialized Equipment
BioNetwork will provide in-person classroom visits that require specialized equipment such as Gel Electrophoresis, PCR, and various probeware.
All Other Labs
We can provide access to a shared folder of classroom activities. To access it...
- Complete the Agreement for Using BioNetwork STEM Outreach Activities.
- Please note, completing the agreement doesn't automatically give access to the folder.
- We review the requests on a weekly basis.
- Once approved, we will add you to the folder and send you a link.
- Use the contact information below if you have questions or need access right away.
Are you looking to borrow equipment to run a lab on your own?
The Science House has an equipment loan service allowing you to borrow science tools after completing professional development.
We offer a variety of professional development opportunities for college instructors and middle/high school educators. These opportunities can include content-specific activities, pedagogical methods, team-building, and soft-skills reinforcement. Professional Development workshops for middle and high school educators or counselors hosted at your institution can bring opportunities for vertical alignment and promotion of your specific programs. View our current professional development opportunities, or request a customized Professional Development today!
NC Community Colleges, consider hosting a Professional Development event for your local K-12 teachers! Check out our Host a Customized Professional Development flier.
If you are an NC Community College life science faculty or staff, consider joining the North Carolina Community College Association for Bioscience Instructors. NC3ABI is an organization meant to continuously improve life science instruction, foster fellowship, and increase communication across the great 58. All full time, part-time, and adjunct life science faculty and staff are invited to attend annual regional and statewide events. If interested in joining, contact nc3abi@gmail.com.
BioNetwork specializes in the creation and implementation of large outreach events. These programs are designed to make it easy for schools, community colleges, and industries to showcase STEM skills and careers as well as local STEM educational pathways.
Example Programs
- EASE for Middle School
- STEM Summer Camps
- High School Career Exploration
- Community STEM Events
External Opportunities for Students and Teachers
Grant Resources
- Burroughs Welcome Fund Science Education Grants
- Golden Leaf Foundation
- NC Beautiful Grants
- Bright Ideas: NC Electric Cooperatives
- Donors Choose
Life Science Conferences in NC
- Bridging the Gap
- NCSTA (North Carolina Association of Science Teachers)
- Science for All Summit - next conference February 20-21, 2025 @ Chapel Hill, NC
Other STEM Organizations in NC
- NC East Alliance - Connecting Public Schools, Community Colleges, and Industry through the STEM East Industry In Schools Initiative with the goal of building awareness of job opportunities in eastern NC.
- NC STEM Center - Developed so parents and other caregivers, teachers, and policymakers could know about STEM in NC including STEM programs and opportunities for kids and their families. It was also created with program providers in mind, providing the means for discovering new partners as well as ways to showcase the STEM opportunities that providers are offering for youth.
- STEM East - Develops networks through the collaborative efforts of regional businesses, school districts, economic development municipalities, private foundations, state and local government and many others. Intent is that students across the region will engage in real-world STEM learning opportunities that directly align with career opportunities in Eastern North Carolina.
- STEM West - STEM West advocates and supports the alignment of educational and occupational objectives through the regional workforce and community partnerships.
Other STEM Opportunities
- NC Middle and High School Students, Share Your Science. Students can share their STEM Research regionally and at a state event in the Triangle or western Piedmont of the NC Student Academy of Science (NCSAS). High school winners receive funds to travel to an international science conference in 2026. NCSAS is one of four student research events/competitions in NC, see our FAQ page for the full list. www.ncsas.org
If your organization has opportunities or information you would like to share, please email engage@ncbionetwork.org
Our outreach programs include classroom visits, faculty training workshops, and career fairs that help connect bioscience industry skills with K12 and community college STEM education.
Contact us at engage@ncbionetwork.org for more information.
Courtney Behrle, Senior Director of STEM Outreach
252-493-7299
