Scientific Research and Education Network (SciREN) Alabama
SciREN was founded by marine science graduate students at the University of North Carolina who wanted to share their research with school children who would be motivated by learning about scientific research in their own community. The network has expanded to multiple institutions and states, and in Spring 2021, researchers at the University of Alabama and the Alabama Water Institute (AWI) hosted the inaugural SciREN Alabama program, fostering active collaborations between AWI researchers and regional K-12 educators.
Want to see what we came up with? See our previous years' lesson plans here.
Want to see what we came up with? See our previous years' lesson plans here.
0: Introductory Webinar for Interested Researchers
January 17, 2025 12-1:30pm via zoom
During this webinar, we will introduce the SciREN program and discuss some essential concepts for communicating research to an audience of K-12 students. Additional training videos will be distributed following this event.
Register for the webinar on Zoom:
https://ua-edu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIlf-ivqD8jGtzPn6Kvbem2zkaE2i5kSxSn
1: Lesson Plan Workshop
January 21, 2025, 5:30-7:00
Smart Communities and Innovation Building (map)
SCIB 1017
During this workshop, researchers will continue to learn about communicating their research to a K-12 student audience. K-12 teachers and educational researchers will provide the context for researchers to translate their local research into K-12 lesson plans. During the event, we will provide an overview of the program and spend extended time in discussion with the teachers about their needs and designing your lesson plan based on the intended grade level (K-4, 5-8, or 9-12).
Register for the SciREN program: https://sciren.ua.edu/researcher-registration.html
A dinner of pizza is provided to all participants.
2: Create Your Lesson Plan
Optional work sessions: TBA
Lesson plans uploaded to shared drive by March 1st
You can work alone or with a team to craft your lesson plan. The SciREN-AL team (including educational researchers and experienced teachers) are available to support you and provide feedback.
3: Networking Event
March 4th, 2025, 6-7:30pm, Alabama Natural History Museum
K-12 teachers from across the state will be invited to come and learn about your research and the lesson plans you have developed. This is a great opportunity to get more feedback on the lesson plan and to recruit teachers to use your lesson. You may also form connections to serve as a resource to teachers (e.g., "zoom a scientist").
A dinner buffet is provided to all participants.
January 17, 2025 12-1:30pm via zoom
During this webinar, we will introduce the SciREN program and discuss some essential concepts for communicating research to an audience of K-12 students. Additional training videos will be distributed following this event.
Register for the webinar on Zoom:
https://ua-edu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIlf-ivqD8jGtzPn6Kvbem2zkaE2i5kSxSn
1: Lesson Plan Workshop
January 21, 2025, 5:30-7:00
Smart Communities and Innovation Building (map)
SCIB 1017
During this workshop, researchers will continue to learn about communicating their research to a K-12 student audience. K-12 teachers and educational researchers will provide the context for researchers to translate their local research into K-12 lesson plans. During the event, we will provide an overview of the program and spend extended time in discussion with the teachers about their needs and designing your lesson plan based on the intended grade level (K-4, 5-8, or 9-12).
Register for the SciREN program: https://sciren.ua.edu/researcher-registration.html
A dinner of pizza is provided to all participants.
2: Create Your Lesson Plan
Optional work sessions: TBA
Lesson plans uploaded to shared drive by March 1st
You can work alone or with a team to craft your lesson plan. The SciREN-AL team (including educational researchers and experienced teachers) are available to support you and provide feedback.
3: Networking Event
March 4th, 2025, 6-7:30pm, Alabama Natural History Museum
K-12 teachers from across the state will be invited to come and learn about your research and the lesson plans you have developed. This is a great opportunity to get more feedback on the lesson plan and to recruit teachers to use your lesson. You may also form connections to serve as a resource to teachers (e.g., "zoom a scientist").
A dinner buffet is provided to all participants.