Newsletter of the Central Coast Biotechnology Center

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FREE CLUES WORKSHOP

College of the Canyons
Friday, February 4 & 11, 2000
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Continental breakfast & lunch will be provided

California Lutheran University Enriched Science Program (CLUES) announces FREE workshops for science instructors interested in using biotechnology in their high school and community college programs. Topics include: Polymerase Chain Reaction, High Performance Liquid Chromatography, Plasmid Insertion and Bacterial Selection, size Exclusion chromatography, and DNA finger printing.

Contact Person(s) for Reservations:
Mary Pat Huxley 805 648-8977 or mphuxley@ventura.cc.ca.us; and Jim Wolf 805 493-3385 or wolf@clunet.edu
Please plan to attend both days to receive all the content.

What will you receive

You receive hands-on training in the five modules of the comprehensive CLUES program, a complete package of CLUES instructional material, and information on how to borrow all supplies and equipment for free! Hear about the Irvine Scholar Program, an instructor nominated four-year program that places career in a field of their choice.

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Use a Workforce Census Data at Allan Hancock College

The first faculty person to receive specific data from the CCBC Workforce census was Tammy Brannon, Biology professor at Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria. Interested in creating a biotech course, Brannon contacted teh CCBC. A visit by Mary Pat Huxley and Bill Thieman encouraged Brannon. She received an outline and stategy on how to create a biotech course, then eventually a program.

Huxley provided specific company names to Brannon, companies that indicated an interest in receiving training or that had responded to the workforce census survey. Brannon said the biotech initiative may work closely with the viticulture/enology program. Several wine-making companies occupy the Santa Maria/Santa Inez area and students at Allan Hancock can already receive an AA in Viticulture/Enology for an AS or certificate in wine making and sales. Brannon sees overlap between biotechnology and these programs.

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Biotechnology in Today’s World: Education and Industry Cooperation - Recap

The workshop “Biotechnology in Today’s World: Industry and Education Cooperation”, was a success. (See photos on page 3) Participants gathered at College of the Canyons heard a presentation on gel technology from Rich Masino and Matt Petre from Novex-Invitrogen. After a delicious hot lunch from College of the Canyons Food service Training Program,the group traveled to Qiagen, Inc., five minutes drive away. Qiagen Technology personnel , Camilla Heinzmann and Tracy Kojis, spoke about the separation technology that is the foundation of their company, then showed its ease in two hands-on demonstrations. One was the separation of each persons own DNA from saliva and the second was the separation of two color dyes to demonstrate DNA, RNA and protein separation.

Dr. Kirk Malloy, head of technology department, came in near the end of the day. The participants were so excited about educators and industry people talking to each other that they decided to continue this education/industry collaboration.
( Meeting to be announced.)

If you are interested in being part of this education/industry collaboration, please contact Mary Pat Huxley at 805 648-8977 or mphuxley@ventura.cc.ca.us.

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Photos from "Biotechnology in Today’s World: Education and Industry Cooperation"
at College of the Canyons

Rich Masino and Matt Petre, Novex-Invitrogen Account Managers, gave an excellent demonstration of gel technology

Marty Ikkanda, biology professor at Los Angeles Pierce, Lauri Krivak, Saugus High School honor student, and Susan Crowther, faculty at College of the Canyons extract DNA in Qiagen’s teaching lab in the first to two hands-on demonstrations.

Dr. Kirk Malloy (standing), Technical Support Manager for Qiagen, Inc. talks with high school and college instructors in the conference room at Qiagen.

Camilla Heinzmann (facing camera), Technical Service Laboratory Director at Qiagen, Inc, instructs participants in the DNA separation lab

Tracy Kojis (far right), Technical Service Taining Supervisor, advises procedure for protein separation column using a two- color dye

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REMINDER - IT'S HERE!

The Biotechnology Workforce Census of the Central Coast, Region 6 of the California Community Colleges is here and available to you!

Why would you want a copy of this Workforce Census? Only if you are interested in the skills that biotechnology companies want in their entry-level employees, or if you are interested in knowing the employment forecast in this region, or if you want to know the exact skills your students need, if you are interested in teaching these skill needs in your classroom to help support your students. Otherwise, it would be of passing interest to you.

The CCBC personnel are proud and thrilled to have this amazing resource to send to you. Included are the skills that biotechnology companies in this region consider necessary for entry level technicians, an overview of the status of companies, relevant hiring criteria, and more.

The Workforce Census has one small cost: your name and address. The CCBC personnel will mail you one to five copies. Please feel free to request these from the CCBC. Contact information is on the bottom of the front page.

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Give Away Day -
Mark your calendar
Friday, January 7, 2000
3:30 PM

CCBC Storage container (call for directions - Barbara Hall 654-6400, ext. 3238.)

Lots of useable lab/instructional supply items beakers, test tubes, vials, erlenmeyer flasks, graduated cylinders, funnels, glass jars, dessicators, anaerobic chambers, squeeze bottles, and some equipment.

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