I will search around on your blog when I get a chance (so happy to have found you!) But what are good web resources that are non-political that educate about or promote responsible chemistry in agriculture? I teach first-year general chemistry at a community college in Arizona. And if you have any favorite resources on promoting science literacy in general. Thanks!
-Jennifer
Hello Jennifer,
Thank you so much for you question! I’m not a scientist myself, so I rely on lots and lots of websites, blogs, and news sources to find material for my articles. I’m more than happy to share where I get my information! Not all of these websites may be appropriate for college students, but I hope that you (and anyone else reading the list) will be able to utilize some of these sources in your classroom.
In addition, the Nutrients for Life Foundation has all sorts of educational materials available for elementary school students, middle schools students, and high school students. There are sample lesson plans, helpful videos, and even materials you can order. The Council for Biotechnology Information is another resource you may find helpful. The Council has put together activity books (like this one) for younger students, and also runs the GMO Answers website that provides scientific answers to questions that consumers of all ages may have about biotechnology. Project Learning Tree has this textbook out about biotechnology.
Otherwise, I encourage you to check out some of the places I go when I need a little more information:
Michigan State University Extension – University ag extensions usually have a lot of information available! Michigan State may be my favorite, but certainly there are other schools that have similar programs, including many that I have utilized for the blog.
Applied Mythology – I cannot refer to my blog buddy and scientist Steve Savage’s blog enough! He has a wealth of information on his website that is clear, articulate, and straightforward. Bonus: He’s very good about speaking with readers and answering questions.
Genetic Literacy Project – This website has a plethora of information about biotechnology, “farm sciences,” and related topics. This is one of the first places I check out when preparing for a new topic.
James Kennedy – James Kennedy is a high school chemistry teacher and also the designer of those wonderful “ingredient lists” for fruits and vegetables (see his ingredient list for blueberries here). He has tips for educators and a nice way of presenting the information.
Biofortified – No list of resources on biotechnology would be complete without a reference to Biofortified. This is the website that is compiling a database of all scientific studies on biotechnology. And most of the contributors (if not all) are scientists!
Ag Phd – If you’re looking for something a bit more entertaining, check out these guys on Youtube. They have lots of videos explaining lots of farm concepts and practices in a simple and easy to understand way. I have shared plenty of their videos!
I hope these suggestions are helpful! Of course, I would love to hear about any additional resources you may find along the way!
By the way, thank you so much for the work you do as well! If nothing else, blogging has helped me realize that we desperately need good science educators here in the United States!
You might find my book, Food Myths Debunked helpful, since it takes a chemistry approach to the debunking. See FoodMythsDebunked.com for more details.