Coffeyville Community College (CCC) Biology Instructor, Pam Oliver and Grant writer, Waneta Davis, spent the last week in August in San Mateo, Calif. learning at a biotechnology workshop conducted by author and education guru, Ellyn Daugherty. The workshop offered a chance for Oliver to learn current techniques in biotechnology through hands-on experience in a state-of-the-art facility. Oliver completed DNA isolation and analysis; protein isolation and analysis; complete assays; recombinant protein production; PCR, Elisa and Page procedures. It was an extremely intense experience, with many weeks worth of material squeezed into 9 hour days. While Oliver was attending the workshop, Davis researched the setup of the biotechnology workforce development programs in Northern California by visiting several campuses and touring their Biotechnology facilities. It is the hope of both Oliver and Davis, that CCC will be able to create a career pathway that connects biotechnology courses at the high school level, community college and university similar to that in Northern California. “Biotechnology is a growing field, and it would be in the best interest of our students and community to be one of the first in this area to offer a program,” said Oliver. CCC is offering a five hour Cell and Molecular Biology class this fall which will teach students the beginning processes needed to be successful in industry. “Biotechnology is about processes, being able to step into a lab and have the confidence and skill to work independently in a laboratory setting,” said Oliver. “Teaching workplace skills is our goal.” Unfortunately, advanced biotechnology equipment is expensive and funding must be obtained thru grants to pay for the equipment. Davis is working on this aspect of the project. While in San Francisco, Oliver and Davis were able to attend the Bio-Link City College Depot. The Bio-Link CCSF Depot connects Northern California teachers with free lab supplies and biotech equipment. By unloading trucks and helping to organize the event, Oliver and Davis were allowed to participate and brought home $2,000 worth of equipment and supplies for CCC students to utilize. While in California, Oliver and Davis took some personal time to visit the world renowned Monterey Bay Aquarium and Marine mammal center, a rehabilitation center for marine mammals. They also visited Muir woods, named after environmentalist, John Muir. Also on their tour schedule was Cannery row, the Steinbeck Museum and Fisherman’s Wharf including Pier 39 where hundreds of sea lion gather. The two also took in a Giants game where they witnessed a rare splash homerun and saw humpback whales and white sided dolphins on an excursion in Monterey.