Ohio Northern University has received a grant from the American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB) to develop an after-school enrichment program to improve the delivery of the plant biology and botany curriculum to seventh- and eighth-grade students in the Marysville Exempted School District.

The project, titled “Planting Seeds of Science: Roots, leaves and STEM in the after-school and summer enrichment program,” is under the direction of Linda Young, ONU professor of biological sciences, and Vicki Motz, visiting assistant professor of biological sciences and Union County Master Gardener.

The ONU professors have assembled a team of faculty and ONU STEM education students to develop the curricular material as well as implement, assess and revise it for delivery to both after-school and summer enrichment programs.

Members of the ONU team include Nichole Stitt, ONU visiting assistant professor of education, and ONU senior biology majors Colleen Baker, from Columbus, Ohio, and Keaton Morris, from Westerville, Ohio Collaborating with the ONU team is Zach Balch, director of the Bunsold After School Enrichment program, Bunsold staff and members of the Union County Master Gardeners.

Each week, the team meets to develop pedagogical materials and travels to Marysville to work with the students. This project, which began at the start of the 2013-14 school year, will continue through the summer.

ASPB is devoted to the advancement of plant science worldwide.  Its 4,500 members conduct scientific research as well as participate in formal and informal education to enhance and disseminate plant biology research. To this end, the Society publishes two of the most widely cited plant science journals, The Plant Cell and Plant Physiology, as well as the innovative online products Teaching Tools in Plant Biology and The Arabidopsis Book. ASPB also strives to cultivate awareness of the importance of plant science research for scientific discovery, human health, and the economy, including impacts on food, feed, fuel and pharmaceuticals. Please visit http://www.aspb.org or follow on Twitter @ASPB.