As a formal method of inquiry, science is the intellectual driving force behind many of humankind’s most remarkable achievements. As a process-driven teaching paradigm that cultivates creative and critical thinking, technology literacy, strong communication skills, and the ability to collaborate effectively with peers, scientific inquiry embodies the full spectrum of educational outcomes required for success in the modern workplace, regardless of a student’s career trajectory or his/her personal or scholastic interests.

A student’s first introduction to the concepts and technologies encompassed by the Integrative Biosciences Program often occurs during their undergraduate studies or later, during graduate school.  CMB and its founding members embrace the philosophy that much of the routine work being performed in academic and professional research settings is accessible to younger students with the appropriate guidance by dedicated and properly trained scientific and educational staff.  Our students will use advanced technologies as a basis to explore interrelated, relevant, and contemporary scientific issues with applications that extend beyond marine studies and into many rapidly progressing areas of the biosciences.  CMB believes that this type of cross-disciplinary learning environment is essential for the development of creative problem solving abilities in our youth. 

Disseminating this powerful approach into the K-12 system at large is a top-tier objective of CMB and the principal focus of our career development workshops.  Although our creation of an open forum for the design of advanced, science-based learning projects is certainly a modest step toward this ambitious goal, we realize that many educators will lack access to costly physical resources necessary to take full advantage of these training opportunities.  To circumvent this challenging issue, CMB’s long-term educational mission is to develop and maintain an open source field station and specialized biosciences laboratory that is available to serve a cluster of high schools in the local area and beyond.  CMB depends on the generosity of forward-thinking supporters who share in this bold vision and its enormous educational potential. 

Representing both the cultures of academic research science and K-12 education, CMB’s founding team members have laid the foundations to deepen educational opportunities for our students within a dynamic and interactive learning milieu. As a fledgling organization, we invite like-minded sponsors to invest in our ongoing efforts to develop the facilities and physical resources necessary to accommodate the full spectrum of our organization’s long-term educational aims.  For more specific information on how you can help CMB meet these ambitious aims, please contact us. 

Coastal Marine Biolabs Integrative Biosciences Program, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to providing inquiry-based, multidisciplinary learning opportunities for students and educators.

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