Hooked on Histology: Using Science Education to Recruit Future Scientists

Abstract

There are shrinking numbers of students in college science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) disciplines in the U.S.A. (1). One outcome of this is a short supply of qualified personnel pursuing careers in highdemand areas in the sciences and engineering. This situation has highlighted the importance of “hooking” students into these subjects at an early age. A student's decision to pursue a career in science happens long before college applications are completed, often even before high school. How do we promote the innovative, rewarding fields in science to students? This article outlines the motivation and design of purposeful, focused, and application-oriented activities for K–12 students to increase their interest in the sciences, and to promote the value of pursuing careers in science, engineering, and especially biomedical fields. If such activities are tied to science curriculum standards, they serve the distinct purpose of teaching required school subjects, and provide teachers with innovative ways to do so. Since histology is a technology-rich biomedical field, it is an ideal introduction to required science topics that relate directly to physical science, life science, and technology.