Delaware Bio took a look at education at its Bio Breakfast event last week.
Roger Coffin, associate director, corporate outreach for the Alfred Lerner College of Business & Economics at the University of Delaware, updated an overflow crowd in attendance at the event on new programs.
The event was held at the Delaware Biotechnology Institute in Newark.
Lerner, according to Coffin, is in the forefront of work in using and interpreting big data that now flows into companies.
The college, one of the largest at UD wtih 3,000 students is now offering a doctorate in big data and analytics in finance and banking.
Coffin also took note of interdisciplinary efforts with the College of Engineering an expansion of Purnell Hall , home of the college and changes to its MBA program.
Two charter schools were also discussed. Judy Coffield, outlined plans for an Early College High School in Dover that would operate under the sponsorship of Delaware State University. The early college model has been successful nationwide in getting the first generation of students to enter and graduate from college. The college graduate rate among early college alumni is 87 percent, Coffield said.
Marian Young, board member for the Delaware STEM Academy, said the proposed charter high school in the New Castle area will focus on “project-based learning” with students working in teams. Young said the approach matches model employed by the private sector. Young is a principal in BrightFields, a Wilmington-based environmental services company.
The academy is currently raising a half million dollars in start-up funds. If that effort is successful, the high school will open in fall 2015.
Another speaker, Katie Lakofsky, BioGENEius coordinator for the Delaware Biotechnology Institute, outlined the program that is part of a national competition. The Delaware program is held in conjunction with science fairs for students in grades nine through 12.
Rob Epps, who heads Junior Achievement of Delaware, discussed the JA It’s My Future program for middle school students. The program held in classrooms, offers students information about preparing for the working world, including careers and job-hunting tools.
Delaware Bio, a trade association representing science-based companies, holds the breakfasts throughout the year on a variety of science-based topics. For further information, click here.
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