The U. S. Department of Commerce declared that science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) occupations are growing at a 7.2% quicker rate than other occupations. STEM employees play a critical role in the sustained growth and sustainability of the U. S. economy. Thus, STEM education is key for creating the next generation of innovators to fulfill future STEM jobs. To help increase the STEM literacy of 4-H teens, a series of two days of three hour hands-on workshops (six total hours) was taught by the STEM Outreach Education Coordinator/Principal Extension Specialist in the Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Department and a Lecturer in the Agricultural and Medical Biotechnology Program titled “Exploring the History and Current Applications of Biotechnology” at the 2018 4-H Teen Conference. Twenty-one teens and three adult leaders learned about the history and evolution of biotechnology, as well as experienced hands-on lab activities including utilizing gel electrophoresis to separate human and plant DNA fragments and exploring a theoretical plant model through the use of food coloring and gel electrophoresis. Another portion of the workshop included lab tours in the Departments of Plant Pathology and Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, where teens were able to learn about current research being conducted and equipment utilized in the Departments in the area of biotechnology.

As a result of the workshop, 100% of the teen participants improved their knowledge from prior to the workshop to post-workshop on the following topics: when biotechnology was developed, the uses of biotechnology in agriculture, careers as an agricultural scientist, conducting research, human genomic DNA, DNA from plants, marker based selection, DNA electrophoresis, and PCR. Students were asked whether they intend to learn more about biotechnology as a result of the workshop and 61% said they currently are or that they plan to and 33% said maybe they will. When asked if they would pursue a STEM degree in college to work in agricultural research or biotechnology as a result of the workshop, 39% of the teens said “yes” or “already doing this,” while 50% said “maybe.”

One hundred percent (100%) of the teens stated they would recommend this workshop to others. When asked how they can apply what they learned to another situation/setting, the teens’ responses included “in school we talk about the lab (activity in this workshop) but actually doing them (in this workshop) was more beneficial,” “I can do better in school,” “being able to understand science better,” and three teens mentioned it would apply to their biology class. This workshop served as an outreach STEM education opportunity for 4-H teens to broaden their STEM literacy and career exploration.