Genentech sponsors growing Bay Area science club program, invests in hands-on science learning

SAN FRANCISCO (March 10, 2015) – The California Academy of Sciences is pleased to announce the expansion of its “Science Action Club” program, thanks to the generous support of South San Francisco-based biotechnology company Genentech. Science Action Club (SAC), supported in part by the California-based Pisces Foundation, engages middle school youth in authentic, hands-on science through partnerships with local afterschool providers at 22 sites across the San Francisco Bay Area. Genentech’s support extends this rich science outreach to afterschool providers at 3 new locations in its own South San Francisco backyard through the remainder of the 2015 school year.

Middle school students in SAC conduct outdoor nature investigations and participate in authentic citizen science projects like Celebrate Urban Birds, S’COOL, and iNaturalist. The SAC process—from planning to outdoor action—begins with an Academy team that develops exciting curriculum, bundles materials and custom-configured digital technology (like iPads), and provides professional training and support to afterschool program providers. From there, groups of about 20 middle school students in each program hit the ground running with all the tools needed for fun and memorable scientific projects.

“Middle school is a make-or-break time for creating lifelong interest in science in the lives of young people,” says the Academy’s Chief Public Engagement Officer Elizabeth Babcock, PhD. “Science Action Club encourages Bay Area students and those beyond to connect to the natural world and visualize themselves as scientists. Genentech’s support extends that valuable experience to countless young students at a critical developmental moment.”

Club curriculum encourages youth to dive deeply into topics ranging from ornithology and the tracking of urban birds, to the science behind clouds and the ways in which they impact climate. Armed with notebooks and scientific tools, groups of 10 to 14-year-olds explore their local communities and report useable scientific data to groups like NASA and Cornell University. SAC pairs thrilling science experiences with real-world interaction with leading scientific institutions to underscore the notion that anyone can be a scientist, and that it can be extremely rewarding.

Afterschool programs that partner with SAC enjoy complimentary access to the Academy’s world-renowned exhibits collection as well as automatic inclusion in the instructor enrichment program SAC Alliance. This community of practice for science educators connects afterschool and formal school-day staff, and helps strengthen students’ overall exposure to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Each Alliance team supports its local Science Action Club by participating in professional development trainings and sharing resources that deepen the SAC youth experience.

“Expanding everyday opportunities for students to discover and engage in STEM has been a longstanding priority for Genentech,” says Geoff Teeter, Vice President, Corporate Relations at Genentech. “We are proud to partner with California Academy of Sciences to deepen STEM opportunities for middle school students in our hometown of South San Francisco.”

Although SAC is currently available in all SFUSD middle schools, Genentech’s South San Francisco support extends the program to an area previously lacking in afterschool enrichment options. The Academy and its partners believe that high quality science education—both informal and formal, with interventions early and often—is key to igniting lifelong curiosity and care for the natural world. The growing SAC network, which extends throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and serves more than 600 youth each year, is a positive step towards making engaging science opportunities available for all students, everywhere. A searchable map of local clubs is available here.