I hope that this is not a hoax but I have to post this message which has
some very serious implications for microbiology education. I hope that
others reading this list from Massachusetts may be in a position to
comment and/or investigate this allegation by one of my colleagues.
A member of the WPI Biology faculty today said that her daughter's State
Projects Fair entry was disqualified because it involved microbiology
(microbiology of Worcester (MA) municipal drinking water) and that all
projects involving any bacteria have been denied access to the State
Project Fair because the "Safety Committee" deemed these projects
dangerous because all bacteria are potential pathogens. Since the 2
projects at this particular school were disqualified the school was
invited to send 6 other projects (presumably) because there has been a
mass depletion of projects that involved the use of bacteria. The State
Projects Fair does not involve children carrying bacterial plates with
them but they report their findings in a poster presentation format.
This decision was retroactive. Children did not know when they began
their project months ago about this problem. The decision by the "Safety
Committee" came sometime last week it has been reported.
If this is true - what is there for us to do?.
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Ted C. Crusberg, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Biology &
Biotechnology, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester MA USA 01609
Society for Industrial Microbiology-Education Committee
Phone: 508-831-5472 Fax: 508-831-5936
http://www.wpi.edu/Academics/Depts/Bio/People/crusberg.html
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