OCCC is helping strengthen science, technology, engineering and mathematics education across Oklahoma through its partnership with the Oklahoma IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (OK-INBRE), a statewide initiative administered by the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.
Dr. George Risinger, professor of biology at OCCC, was recently recognized at the Academic Affairs Faculty and Staff Recognition Luncheon for his leadership of the college’s OK-INBRE outreach activities.
According to Risinger, the primary goal of the OK-INBRE program is to strengthen Oklahoma’s STEM pipeline by supporting science education at multiple levels.
“The biggest objective for the grant in general is to enhance the STEM pipeline in Oklahoma,” Risinger said.
The OK-INBRE program supports research and STEM education across the state through partnerships with colleges and universities. At OCCC, the partnership focuses primarily on supporting K-12 STEM education by providing professional development opportunities for teachers.
“The aim for community colleges that are associated with the grant is to help enhance the K-12 STEM pipeline,” Risinger said.
Much of OCCC’s work through the partnership involves professional development workshops for middle and high school teachers. Participants receive hands-on STEM training, classroom resources and instructional strategies that they can incorporate into their classrooms. Teachers who complete the workshops also receive a $200 stipend.
“A lot of our work for INBRE goes to trying to help out mainly middle and high school,” Risinger said. “We don’t do a huge amount with elementary schools — usually middle and high school.”
Risinger said he focuses much of his outreach on teachers because they have the opportunity to influence thousands of students.
“Most of my work is focused on teachers,” he said.
This year, 20 teachers participated in the workshops, while 10 Oklahoma schools took part in OCCC’s STEM Pantry Program, which provides schools with STEM instructional materials and classroom resources.
Together, these initiatives are expected to impact more than 10,400 Oklahoma K-12 students. An estimated 6,780 students will benefit through the STEM Pantry Program, while another 3,653 students will be reached through teachers who participated in the workshops.
Risinger credited the project’s success to a collaborative team effort, acknowledging the contributions of Professor of Biology Kim Park and fellow OCCC staff members David Rochat, Melanie Chapman and Valerie Smith-Risinger. He also thanked the OCCC Foundation for sponsoring lunch during the teacher workshops.
Through its partnership with OK-INBRE, OCCC continues to expand STEM learning opportunities beyond campus by supporting educators and inspiring the next generation of scientists, engineers and researchers across Oklahoma.
