Disaster - College of Veterinary Medicine - Texas A&M University

Communicating
BY ELIZABETH JANECKA
with clients, students, veterinarians,
other scientists, & the public
CVM REACHES OUT
TO YOUTH AND TEACHERS ACROSS
TEXAS THROUGH PEER PROGRAM
Science, and the ability to understand the scientific
process, is an increasingly important skill.
For this reason, it has become imperative to find
new ways to engage middle school children with
scientific concepts. The Partnership for Environmental
Education and Rural Health (PEER) at
the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine
& Biomedical Sciences (CVM) is reaching across
the state of Texas to educate teachers to teach science
using a different approach that children in
middle school can get excited about.
“The Veterinarian’s Black Bag” is one program
through PEER that enhances the understanding
of grade school students, sixth through eighth
grade, about the world of science and discovery.
This program is in its third year of a five-year
grant that is funded by a Science Education
Partnership Award from the National Center for
Research Resources at the National Institutes of
Health. The program encourages veterinarians
all over the state to visit local rural schools and
teach science through the use of animals. The
12 • CVM Today • Summer 2010
veterinarians receive free lesson plans, Power-
Point presentations, and other relevant information
to help present science in a different light.
The corresponding lesson materials are already
broken down for use in a middle school classroom
to better promote student understanding.
The teacher is then able to follow up with free
curriculum available through the PEER website.
“We not only want to increase students’ interest,
but ignite a sincere passion for science,”
said Dr. Larry Johnson, professor of veterinary
medicine-anatomy and founder of PEER. “It
truly is a wonderful opportunity for youth to gain
experience and understanding in science and for
our undergraduate, graduate, and professional
students to hone their communication skills.”
Johnson explains that “The Veterinarian’s
Black Bag” is a team effort. Dr. Dan Posey, director
of special programs and clinical associate
professor; Dr. Bill Klemm, professor of neuroscience
and of veterinary integrative biosciences;
Michele Ward, research associate and teacher;