# Environmental Health Research Experiences for Teachers in High-Poverty Schools: A Professional DevelopmentProgram

> **NIH NIH R25** · NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY RALEIGH · 2021 · $99,506

## Abstract

Abstract
The current project proposes an innovative professional development (PD) program in
environmental health research experiences for science high-school teachers from schools with
high poverty levels in North Carolina. In a collaborative effort, experts from the College of
Education and scientists affiliated with the Center for Human Health and Environment (CHHE),
and the Comparative Medicine Institute (CMI) at NC State University will provide teachers
(N=40) with unique authentic lab experiences. The 8-week summer research PD program aims
at enhancing teachers' environmental health literacy and research skills that will support novel
science teaching strategies.
The specific aims addressed by the program are the following: 1) to provide teachers with
a practical understanding of the scientific method in mentored research projects examining links
between environmental stressors and health; 2) to provide teachers with an understanding of
core conceptual issues in toxicology; 3) to train teachers in ethical issues in scientific conduct,
science communication, and public health; 4) to immerse teachers in authentic research lab
experiences by using a cognitive apprenticeship model; and 5) to develop a comprehensive
evaluation plan in order to assess the short- and long- term PD outcomes.
In the proposed environmental health science (EHS) research PD program, teachers will be
integrated into genuine research projects and attend lab meetings, gaining general knowledge
of how research is conducted and specialized knowledge related to ongoing projects in their
host lab. Additionally, teachers in the program will come together one day per week in a
workshop environment, to share their diversity of research experiences and gain additional
training in biological concepts and ethical issues related to environmental health sciences.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10072056
- **Project number:** 5R25ES028974-04
- **Recipient organization:** NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY RALEIGH
- **Principal Investigator:** READE B ROBERTS
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $99,506
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-01-01 → 2022-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10072056

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10072056, Environmental Health Research Experiences for Teachers in High-Poverty Schools: A Professional DevelopmentProgram (5R25ES028974-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10072056. Licensed CC0.

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