Discovery Education and Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, have teamed up to launch Futurelab+, an educational initiative aimed at empowering high school students with new capstone project resources in the field of biotechnology. The goal of Futurelab+ is to increase the number and diversity of students receiving a quality biotech education through digital resources and industry and community connections.
The comprehensive biotechnology curriculum offered by Futurelab+ includes content that addresses health equity, inclusivity, and representation in clinical research. The newly introduced capstone resources provide students and teachers with various tools to create projects that showcase their knowledge and skills in biotechnology applied to real-world problems.
These resources include a project management guide, a student capstone journal, project starters, rubrics, and project exemplars. Additionally, there are 13 in-class activities for students to explore topics such as microbial bioremediation, antibiotic sensitivity testing, and biomedical engineering design challenges. Educators will also have access to a Masterclass video series starting in October to support the implementation of a capstone year of study for biotechnology or any career and technical education course.
Ragnar von Schiber, Director of Employee and Community Engagement at Genentech, emphasized the importance of student-led research projects that challenge students to select topics and synthesize their learnings, preparing them for success beyond graduation. The new Futurelab+ capstone project allows students to apply STEM learning to solve real-world problems from anywhere.
In addition to the new resources, Futurelab+ now features a more user-friendly table of contents site navigation and fully editable student capture sheets in English and Spanish to support the biotech curriculum. The instructional materials are designed to meet national education and industry standards, focusing on in-demand skills and career pathways in biotechnology.
Futurelab+ builds upon the success of Genentech’s Futurelab program, which was launched in 2015 in South San Francisco to support students pursuing STEM careers. The initiative targets historically excluded groups with the aim of creating a more diverse scientific and medical workforce. Genentech has invested over $35 million in Futurelab since its inception and currently supports all K-12 students and teachers in South San Francisco.
Amy Nakamoto, Executive Vice President of Corporate Partnerships at Discovery Education, highlighted the importance of hands-on science experiences for students, fostering curiosity and building career-ready skills. She expressed pride in partnering with Genentech to provide students with opportunities to explore biotechnology and related fields through Futurelab+.
To learn more about Futurelab+, visit futurelabplus.com or explore it within Discovery Education Experience. Discovery Education, a global edtech leader, offers award-winning digital resources and professional learning solutions to support educators in delivering equitable learning experiences and promoting academic achievement worldwide. With approximately 4.5 million educators and 45 million students using its resources in over 100 countries and territories, Discovery Education is committed to transforming education through technology and innovation.
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