GENETIC ENGINEERING IS ONE OF THE MOST MISUNDERSTOOD SUBJECTS BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC. THE GOAL OF THIS EDUCATION AND EXTENSION INTEGRATED PROJECT IS TO EDUCATE SECONDARY EDUCATORS ON GENETIC ENGINEERING CONCEPTS, BUILDING CONFIDENCE AND SKILLS FOR LABORATORY SCIENCE AND PROVIDING RESOURCES FOR EXPOSING STUDENTS TO THE CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN GENETIC ENGINEERING. A STANDARDS BASED CURRICULUM AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR TEACHERS WILL BE DEVELOPED TO PROVIDE HIGHLY EFFECTIVE LESSONS TO ENGAGE LEARNERS IN THE STUDY OF GENETIC ENGINEERING. THE WEEK-LONG PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WILL EXPOSE TEACHERS TO RESOURCES IN THE FIELD, INCREASE THEIR LAB SKILLS IN UCONN LABS AND BUILD CONNECTIONS WITH INDIVIDUALS IN INDUSTRY. WE WILL ACTIVELY RECRUIT EDUCATORS THROUGHOUT CT FROM SCHOOLS WITH VARYING DEMOGRAPHICS, YEARS OF TEACHING EXPERIENCE AND COURSE ASSIGNMENTS. THROUGH THE WORK OF THIS PROJECT, A CURRICULUM WILL BE DEVELOPED WITH LESSONS FOR SECONDARY YOUTH ON GENETIC ENGINEERING, CURRICULUMWILL BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR IMPLEMENTATION ACROSS THE NATION, AND TEACHERS WILL BECOME FAMILIAR WITH THE CAREER OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEIR STUDENTS IN THE FIELD OF GENETICS. EXTENSION OUTREACH WILL BE PROVIDED BY MULTIPLE MEMBERS OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND INDUSTRY PERSONNEL AS PART OF THE CAREER EXPOSURE. BASED ON FEEDBACK AND EVALUATION DATA OF THE CURRICULUM AND ADVISORY COMMITTEE, A SUPPLEMENTAL LESSON TOOL BOX WILL BE DEVELOPED FOR INFORMAL LEARNING SETTINGS SUCH AS 4-H. THIS PROJECT ALIGNS WITH THE FOOD SAFETY, NUTRITION, AND HEALTH PRIORITY AREA AS THE TOPIC OF GENETIC ENGINEERING IN FOODS RAISES QUESTIONS ON THE SAFETY OF THE FOOD, NUTRITIONAL IMPACT AND HEALTH IMPACTS.