The Bio-Bus Program at Georgia State University

General Information About the Bio-Bus Program

The Bio-Bus Program is a group of students and educators at Georgia State University who are committed to building a learning community that serves all Georgians. In support of this goal, in 1999 the University provided us with funds to build the first Bio-Bus: a 30-foot long, self-contained, mobile laboratory which can accommodate up to 15 students at a time. From 2001 to 2005, a pilot grant from the National Science Foundation allowed us to obtain a second Bio-Bus, as well as a van, and to expand our efforts to bring relevant, participatory, and - above all – FUN science presentations to Georgia’s students. We have developed a dynamic out-reach education program which brings science-related, hands-on lessons and experiments to classrooms in elementary, middle, and high schools, without charge. Our goal is not only to educate, but to also engender a sense of excitement about and enthusiasm for the various scientific disciplines. Inclusion in a Howard Hughes Medical Institute 2006 Undergraduate Science Education grant (see right) will help us to move in new directions.

Although we usually visit public and private schools, we have given our presentations for a number of community organizations. We welcome scheduling inquiries from any interested group or organization. We would like to be able to visit any and every institution or group who would have us, but practical considerations limit us to usually servicing those within about one hours driving distance from downtown Atlanta. We also place a priority on requests for presentations for students in grades four to twelve. If you are more than one hour away from downtown Atlanta, and/or your group does not meet our priority criteria then we encourage you to contact us anyway. We make every effort to reach out to as many people as possible.

Currently, the Bio-Bus staff consists of approximately 15 undergraduate and graduate students operating under the direction of Professor Barbara Baumstark, PhD. Since the inception of the Bio-Bus Program at Georgia State University we have made over 950 visits to schools and community organizations located in 31 different counties. In the process, we have shared our activities with over 80,000 Georgians.

Bio-Bus News

New! Teacher Workshop Sept. 15-16, 2008

Forensic Science and Molecular Biology

New Awards for the Bio-Bus Program!

Carl Patton presents Dr. Barbara Baumstark the 2007 President's Award for Community Service and Social Action

Read the article here

Lauren Adamson, Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, presents Bio-Bus Program Manager Genevieve Edwards the A & S 2007 Outstanding Junior Staff Award

Full article here

Governor Sonny Perdue tours the Bio-Bus with Lab Coordinators Dana Brown, Chandan Robbins, and J C Flores (in bus)

Bio-Bus Director Wins Board of Regents’ Excellence in Teaching Award!

Barbara Baumstark, Professor of Biology, is a 2005 winner of the University System of Georgia Board of Regents’ Teaching Excellence Award representing research universities. The award recognizes Baumstark’s work with Georgia State students and her role as director of the Bio-Bus program, a community-outreach service to the state’s K-12 students.

Read the full article here.