MASSACHUSETTS LIFE SCIENCES CENTER ANNOUNCES CAPITAL GRANT AWARDS AND FUNDING FOR EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES IN METROWEST

MASSACHUSETTS LIFE SCIENCES CENTER ANNOUNCES CAPITAL GRANT AWARDS AND FUNDING FOR EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES IN METROWEST

Grants to fund capital projects at institutions for higher education, and new equipment for STEM education at public high schools

Framingham, MA – The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) today joined elected officials and school leaders at Joseph P. Keefe Regional Technical School to announce more than $400,000 in funding for life-sciences-related capital projects and nearly $400,000 in grants to purchase equipment and supplies for high schools in the MetroWest region of Massachusetts.

“Massachusetts’ flourishing life sciences community has created opportunities and spurred economic growth in every region of the state,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “These grants from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center will further strengthen our workforce in order to meet the needs of this growing industry through enhanced training facilities and programs at our middle schools and high schools.”

Regis College received the largest grant of $355,000 to invest in critically needed equipment that will provide life sciences education opportunities to underserved populations. By integrating new equipment into the curriculum, it will strengthen the life sciences education for all students, including serving and attracting those groups that are underrepresented in the sciences, which is over fifty percent of Regis’ currently declared biology and biochemistry majors. The grant will also better prepare students for graduate studies, position Regis for advanced biomedical science and regulatory studies education programs, and increase the number of graduates who will be contributing competitively and substantially to Massachusetts’ innovation economy.

“We are so grateful for the Mass Life Sciences equipment award,” said President of Regis College Antoinette M. Hays, PhD, RN.  “As Regis renews its campus facilities and classrooms,” she continued, “this grant will allow us not only to update but to contemporize our laboratories and science classrooms for twenty-first century STEM education.”

Wellesley College received $50,000 from the MLSC to support the planning and design phase of the renovation and modernization of their Science Center. The grant will be used to plan for laboratories and teaching facilities that will increase faculty research capabilities, enhance faculty recruitment, and strengthen the learning experience so more students will persist in science majors and go on to STEM careers. This grant will support the work of Wellesley’s faculty, staff and consultants as they determine the key design elements of the renovation project, which will improve Science Center classrooms, laboratories and collaborative spaces to more dramatically support engaged teaching.  

"As women continue to be underrepresented in this area, it is critical that those who are interested in pursuing a career in the sciences be supported every step of the way," said Wellesley College President H. Kim Bottomly. "Thanks to the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, enhancements to our Science Center will help ensure that the next generation of Wellesley scientists have the tools and resources they need to thrive in their chosen path. We are deeply grateful to the Center for its generous grant.”

“At the MLSC we are using our capital dollars to ensure access to state-of-the-art life sciences training facilities across the entire state, so that students, regardless of zip code, will be able to access careers in our state’s fastest-growing industry sectors,” said Susan Windham-Bannister, Ph.D., President & CEO of the MLSC.  “We want to ensure that our middle schools, high schools and colleges have the training facilities they need to prepare students to successfully compete for jobs in our state’s fastest-growing industry sectors, and that we can supply the workforce that growing companies require.”

The equipment and supply grant recipients that were also announced today include three vocational technical schools and one public high school. Awardees provide an array of training ranging from general STEM education curricula to biotechnology. The student population that will benefit from these equipment grants represents a diverse workforce.

The MLSC grant of $98,820 to Joseph P. Keefe Regional Technical School in Framingham will provide funding to expand and enhance laboratory space in the school. Updated technology will increase the level of "hands-on" experiences for students, including the use of a 3D printer for its "Project Lead the Way" pre-engineering program. This project represents the district's most significant commitment to STEM education. The new offerings will introduce students to the fields of biomedical engineering, bio-molecular genetics and bioprocess engineering. Students will have the opportunity to explore biological and engineering concepts relevant to future careers in the life sciences.

“We are thrilled that Keefe Technical School was selected for a substantial grant from the Massachusetts Life Science Center,” said Jon Evans, Superintendent of Joseph P. Keefe Regional Technical School. “This funding will allow us to increase our supply of microscopes and computer resources for students in science courses.  Through this grant, we will also purchase 3-Dimensional printers for students in our Project Lead The Way STEM electives. The grant awarded by the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center will make a significant difference for the students we serve.”

Minuteman Career and Technical High School in Lexington received $88,970 in funding that will enable Minuteman High School to acquire biotechnology equipment that will support its expanding enrollment and empower students to master foundational STEM skills for college and future life sciences careers in research and development firms. The sophisticated equipment that this grant will provide includes bioreactors, bio commanders software and equipment that will expand the school’s biomanufacturing curriculum. Student will be given the opportunity to gain meaningful experience in “wet labs” that mimic the types of laboratories where they will eventually work.

“Minuteman is grateful to the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center for its tremendous support,” said Michelle Roche, Director of Career and Technical Education. “Funding from the Center has been instrumental in keeping our program up-to-date and well equipped.” 

Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School was awarded $98,962 in funding to support the expansion of Tri-County’s math and science courses, primarily advanced placement physics, calculus and statistics classes, and a new computer science course. Funding will support the purchase of laptops, graphing calculators, software and other materials that will significantly improve student’s technology literacy. Additionally, the new technology will allow for broader and more authentic interactive learning environments for students to investigative and analyze data on a daily basis. 

Waltham High School received a $98,742 grant to enrich the school’s engineering program by increasing the capabilities of its technology and physics classes for students. Students will gain exposure to automated engineering and manufacturing through the purchase of innovative technologies such as the Intelitek ScorBot, an industrial robotics training device that provides students with observation of its working mechanical parts while ensuring safety. These offerings will increase interest and enrollment, and solidify pathways to multiple career opportunities in engineering.   

“This funding from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center will go far in assisting these schools throughout the MetroWest region to obtain the high-technology tools necessary to effectively broaden the scope of STEM-related offerings for students,” said Representative Alice Peisch (D-Wellesley). “As Chair of the Education Committee, I appreciate how investments such as these are critical in order to prepare the Commonwealth’s students for success both in school and in their future careers.”

“This grant is going to make education better for our kids,” said Representative Tom Sannicandro (D-Ashland). “For kids to have this learning opportunity is going to create jobs in the MetroWest and give them the chance to see what STEM education offers, and many will end up working in the jobs of the innovation economy because of it.”

The STEM Equipment and Supplies Grant Program, launched in 2011, has previously awarded more than $8.4 million to 61 different high schools and organizations throughout Massachusetts and leveraged more than $1 million in matching funds from the life sciences industry.