Let's work together!
We offer several different options for engaging students in cancer biology and STEM career education:
Exhibit at events like career fairs and family STEAM nights
Visit classrooms (or other sites) to lead cancer-biology lessons, career discussions, and biotechnology laboratories
Host chaperoned groups of 10 - 25 high school students for half-day or full-day events on campus
How to get started:
Check out our offerings below. Or do you have other ideas for biomedically-focused activities? Indicate this on the form and we can try to co-create something new together!
Familiarize yourself with the MCC safety policies for hosting youth activities on campus and off campus.
Fill in this form to let us know about your interest!
Our Offerings:
Relevant Content
What do you already know? Intro to cancer through a true/false game - 20 - 30 minutes (appropriate for 6th - 12th graders)
Cancer biology review with AP/IB Biology connections - 30 - 40 minutes (appropriate for 10th - 12th graders)
Skin cancer case study - 45 minutes (appropriate for 8th - 12th graders)
Breast cancer disparities reading/case study - 45 minutes (appropriate for 10th - 12th graders)
Intro to CRISPR with models - 60 minutes (appropriate for 10th - 12th graders)
Skill Development
Intro to gel electrophoresis using reusable gels and micropipettes - 10 minutes (appropriate for 10th - 12th graders)
Intro to micropipette usage - Ranges from a 2 minute game to a 20 - 40 minute lesson - including competitive "pipette races", this kit from Edvotek, or this one from MiniPCR (appropriate for 6th - 12th graders)
Intro to microscopes - Ranges from 20 minutes to 2 hours (appropriate for 8th - 12th graders)
Intro to ELISA kit from Edvotek - 20 minutes (appropriate for 10th - 12th graders)
Is it chunky? Getting familiar with the vortexer and centrifuge - 20 minutes (appropriate for 10th - 12th graders)
Thinking about thinking: How to learn hard things (metacognition, strategies, and mindset) - 45 minutes (appropriate for 10th - 12th graders)
Hands-On Activities
Cancer fighting foods involves making fruit pizza - 45 minutes (appropriate for 6th - 12th graders)
UV protection investigation - 45 minutes (appropriate for 8th - 12th graders)
Dangers of vaping simulated lab experiment and discussion - 45 minutes (appropriate for 8th - 12th graders)
Nicotine addiction modeling and discussion modified from Science Take-Out - 45 minutes (appropriate for 10th - 12th graders)
Vape flavoring risks simulated lab and discussion modified from Science Take-Out - 45 minutes (appropriate for 8th - 12th graders)
Lung health exploration including examination of human lung tissues, histology slides, and self-measurements - 45 minutes (appropriate for 8th - 12th graders)
Cancer cell morphology investigation with microscopes from Edvotek- 45 minutes (appropriate for 8th - 12th graders)
Analysis of healthy vs. tumorous human tissue samples - 20 - 40 minutes (appropriate for 8th - 12th graders)
Handwashing lab introduction to petri dishes and cell culturing - 45 - 60 minutes (appropriate for 8th - 12th graders)
DNA extraction lab: from strawberries to your saliva! - 20 - 30 minutes (appropriate for 6th - 12th graders)
Cancer gene detection gel electrophoresis lab from Edvotek - 30 - 60 minutes depending on experience (appropriate for 10th - 12th graders)
Quantitative ELISA kit from Edvotek modified to a DNA damage / cancer-related scenario - 2 hours (appropriate for 11th - 12th graders)
Central Dogma kit from MiniPCR - 30 - 90 minutes in your classroom so you can check on it the following day (appropriate for 10th - 12th graders)
Agar Art kit from Edvotek - 30 - 60 minutes in your classroom so you can check on it the following day (appropriate for 8th - 12th graders)
CRISPR kit from BioRad - 60 - 90 minutes in your classroom so you can check on it the following day (appropriate for 10th - 12th graders)
Connections & Careers
What are possible cancer-related careers? 2 minute game or 45 minute research activity (appropriate for 10th - 12th graders)
Intro to science/medical careers terminology and pathways - 5 - 10 minutes (appropriate for 10th - 12th graders)
MCC lab tour (NO hands-on work) - 20 - 30 minutes (appropriate for 10th - 12th graders)
Networking lunch with MCC students, staff, and faculty - 25 - 45 minutes (appropriate for 6th - 12th graders)
Networking tic-tac-toe with MCC students, staff, and faculty - 10 - 15 minutes (appropriate for 8th - 12th graders)
Other Offerings:
Other UMN Campus Visit Options
UMN Admissions - Admission officers are happy to meet with interested students and set up a personalized tour/talk for your group.
Bakken Medical Devices Center - Check out where medical devices were born at UMN!
Bell Museum of Natural History - Spend a day with their amazing resources (scholarships available)!
College of Science & Engineering - From Biosystems to the Nano Center, CSE has many options to host campus visitors.
M Simulation Center - Take a course, tour the simulation facilities, or even train to become a standardized patient/volunteer.
Virtual Reality Studio - Located in the Health Sciences Education Center, explore simulations used to train future healthcare professionals! Inquire about visiting the Makerspace, too.
Visible Heart Lab - Check out the amazing inventory of heart models and specimens, maybe even witness a surgery!
Greater Minnesota Options
Check out the many UMN Research & Outreach Centers
Get in touch with the Center for Rural Education in Science and Technology (CREST) in Crookston
The Hormel Institute offers tours and other educational programs
Or fill in our interest form to let us know what you’re looking for and we can try to help you get connected!