Gilson Connect
The Madison College Biotechnology Program (MCBP) strives to train students in the exciting area of biotechnology laboratory skills and is passionate about educating people about how a career in science can be rewarding and impactful. Since the program began in 1987, the department has grown to offer different levels of degree and certificate programs to help those interested in science start and grow their careers.
This work is why MCBP is the perfect partner for one of Gilson's sustainability and community support initiatives. Science improves the quality of life. Both organizations believe in giving back to our communities and helping to break down inequity barriers to support educational access and science for all.
Gilson is on the Biotech Advisory Board at MCBP. As part of this relationship, we are collaborating to create programs that help inform and expose a diverse group of students to biotechnology career pathways. Our goal is to bridge the gap between getting students interested in research careers and providing opportunities for career training skills needed to work in modern industry labs.
When looking at high school science classrooms, we noticed a trend of teachers needing more tools and support to teach lab basics curriculum. Budgeting is a challenge in many public schools, especially in rural communities, and we want to help. Together with MCBP, we created and donated kits with detailed lesson plans that make it turnkey for teachers to teach these lessons. Every kit consists of three 45-minute lessons with student worksheets, teacher instructions, and all the supplies and materials needed for a classroom, including Gilson PIPETMAN® pipettes, and pipette tips. Our first educational module, called “Enzymes in Action,” teaches students important concepts related to enzymes and highlights techniques and applications in the field of biotechnology. It can be taught in a high school biology or chemistry class and connects to Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) followed by teachers.
With our limited budget, we were so grateful for the Gilson pipettes and tips; using such quality tools is important for the student’s experience and the outcome of their experiments
- Danielle Bendt at Marshall High School
I cannot express how grateful I am for all of these amazing resources! I couldn't wait, so I looked through the kit. I was speechless. I guess I didn't realize EVERYTHING would be included!
- Molly Wallace at Badger High School
This year we will be expanding the program to more schools throughout Wisconsin. We have several currently in progress, and we want to create a ripple effect to build more science education and awareness of science career pathways in rural communities that have not had this opportunity.
Training upcoming scientists for a modern lab career requires using digital technologies and automation as part of the curriculum. In partnership with Oana Martin, Faculty and Biotechnology Program Director, at MCBP, we plan to integrate PIPETMAX®, an automated liquid handler, and TRACKMAN Connected pipetting systems to help train upcoming laboratory technicians on how this technology can help with their assays and reproducibility. As a part of this program, we aim to release a Gilson training certificate after completion to highlight this training on student’s resumes. We believe that future researchers need access to automation early in their education to prepare them for a real-life lab.
Gilson has been a longtime supporter of our training program, and their donations have helped us stay current and use modern equipment to prepare our graduates to enter the biotechnology workforce. Our plans to integrate elements of automation into our curriculum with PIPETMAX® and TRACKMAN would not be possible without this partnership
- Oana Martin at MCBP
Gilson has been around for 75 years and counting, and sustainability is in our genes. Our involvement in protecting the environment extends to our financial resources, operations, employees, suppliers, customers, and the communities we live and work in daily. We make a meaningful impact by helping scientists advance the pace of their discovery. We also foster opportunities for our employees to feel more engaged by giving back to their communities. Each year we come together on a variety of causes the company and our employees care about and donate to support advances in research, including:
We also give back to our scientific communities by refurbishing our products and donating to educational programs in our communities. Learn more here.
