News from Delaware BioScience Association

A student's future career path may be sparked by just one unforgettable experience. With this in mind, the Delaware Valley Innovation Network (DVIN) is seeking partners to join them in offering the region's future talent an opportunity to immerse themselves in the sciences during Science Career Week from October 19-23.

Whether you are a high school teacher, an educator at a two-or-four-year college, a non-profit, a for-profit or represent a business-education partnership, you may be eligible to receive a grant in the amount of $1,000 or $5,000 if you participate in this innovative program. Grants will be awarded for those who support science-related events for students, parents, educators, workforce providers and workers in the DVIN region during National Science Career Week.

"The DVIN region is both rich in the amount and diverse in the type of science careers that are found throughout our region," said Kelly Lee, DVIN Chairwoman and President and CEO of Innovation Philadelphia. "During science week, students will be exposed to numerous hands-on experiences that may guide their future career path, which will in turn, continue to feed the region's science workforce pipeline."

DVIN is offering two grants to promote Science Career week including:

Individual Grant Projects: DVIN will award up to $1,000 in individual grant projects for single classroom or club-size science activities. Proposals can include but are not limited to: hands-on laboratory experiments; STEM programs for parents and students; field trips to local science companies; tours of science exhibits, and presentations by science industry professionals.

Collaborative Grant Projects: DVIN will award up to $5,000 for collaborative grant projects for science-related programs for school-wide events or events open to the public. Proposals can include but are not limited to: science department open houses; open lectures on science topics; science fairs, and career fairs featuring science careers.

"Science Career Week is an excellent opportunity for DVIN's many partners to promote the diversity of careers in the region's robust science community," says Helen Groft, DVIN Project Director." We encourage eligible participants to join us in helping our future workforce catch the excitement of pursuing a career in the life sciences."
All grants must serve participants 16 years or older in the DVIN 14-county region. Applications are due by September 30, 2009 and will be awarded on a rolling basis as long as funds are available. For more information or to apply for a grant, go to www.delawarevalleyinnovationnetwork.com.
About DVIN: DVIN, officially launched in 2005, is a regional partnership and received endorsements from all three governors from Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. DVIN is a tri-state, 14-county regional initiative working to transform the way in which the region develops its life science talent. The DVIN region includes New Castle County in Delaware; Burlington, Camden, Cumberland, Gloucester, and Mercer and Salem counties in New Jersey and Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lancaster, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties in Pennsylvania.