The lab is being established with advanced equipment on long-term loan from NIEHS under a new partnership with Durham schools called BEST-Bridging Education, Science and Technology. At the lab, which is designed to serve as a model for other educational partnerships, teachers and students will master techniques that will enhance their qualifications for the job market as well as for colleges, universities and research organizations such as the NIEHS.

NIEHS Director Kenneth Olden, Ph.D., said, "We can provide training, mentoring and laboratory work experiences for the students-and then, five or ten years down the road, quantify the results."

"Future careers in almost any aspect of biology will require a thorough understanding of the tools of molecular biology," stated J. Carl Barrett, Ph.D., NIEHS Scientific Director. "Molecular biology has had a significant impact in the business as well as the scientific community, leading to the creation of a variety of new products, hundreds of new businesses, and thousands of new jobs."

The Center will allow for an area-wide effort to offer training, coursework, and hands-on research experience to both teachers and students at Hillside and from other schools through video conferencing/distance-learning throughout the area.

The overall goals are to: (1) increase every student's enthusiasm for and awareness of science, (2) to increase opportunities for motivated students to pursue science careers, thus insuring a diverse population of future science professionals, and (3) to insure the availability of a well trained workforce to meet this country's future environmental health sciences research needs. "This partnership supports and further extends our commitment to academic success for Durham Public Schools students," said Theodore R. Drain, Interim Superintendent.

The program will include brief remarks by George Frazier, Ph.D., Principal of Hillside Model High School, Drain, Olden, and Thomas Malone, Ph.D. former Deputy Director, NIH and 1943 Hillside High graduate. The remarks will be followed by a ribbon cutting ceremony at the entrance to the NIEHS Molecular Biology Laboratory and Training Center, tours of the new Center, unveiling of the new BEST Partnership logo, and demonstrations of new Internet links between Hillside High School and NIEHS. Students, science teachers, parents, and NIEHS scientists who will provide training to Hillside teachers and mentorship for students will participate in the program. Reception sponsored by NC State Senator Jeanie Lucas, District 13 (Durham, Granville, Person and Wake counties). The Parent/Student/Teachers Association of HHS will serve as hosts. The public is invited to attend the opening and reception. Hillside Model High School is at 3727 Fayetteville Street in Durham.