DrosoPHILA: A Partnership between Scientists and Teachers That Begins in the Lab and Continues into City Schools

Abstract

Here, we describe the development, structure, and effectiveness of an outreach program, DrosoPHILA, that leverages the tools of our fly neurodevelopmental research program at the University of Pennsylvania to reinforce the biology curriculum in local public schools. DrosoPHILA was developed and is sustained by a continued collaboration between members of the Bashaw lab, experienced outreach educators, and teachers in the School District of Philadelphia. Since the program’s inception, we have collaborated with 18 teachers and over 2400 students. Student outcome data indicates significant positive attitude shifts around science identity and grade-appropriate knowledge gains.