By Dan Baer/The Daily Item
LYNN - Biotechnology is one of the fastest growing industries in the world, and the Lynn Chamber of Commerce is hoping to bring more jobs in that field to the area with a new biotech curriculum at English High School.
The program, organized in cooperation with the Massachusetts Biotech Council and North Shore Community College, will differ from traditional biotechnology courses normally found in vocational schools, because students will learn industry standards and have the possibility of gaining credits at NSCC if they chose to pursue biotechnology as a career.
Most courses at other schools teach concepts of biotechnology, but according to Chamber President John Olson, do not necessarily prepare students for the real challenges of the industry.
"Our students will learn the way that different companies in the industry want things done, rather than going off to college or the workforce with a more generic understanding," he said.
Olson believes that by creating a well-trained workforce in the city, businesses will recognize the solid training and consider locating their businesses in the city.
While medical research is the most commonly thought of biotechnology field, Olson said that most other industries could use the skills learned in the courses for various positions.The classes are offered only to seniors at English the first year, but are expected to expand to other grades, and eventually other high schools, as the program becomes more established. Olsen said the plan is to have the program throughout the district, and set up an accreditation program at NSCC where students can move up to college and receive credits for passing an entrance exam.
"As far as I know, this is the first biotech curriculum in a general high school in the area," Olson said. "At (Columbia Insurance, where Olson works) we do business with the Massachusetts Biotech Council, and they told me they need more people to work if these companies are going to stay in Massachusetts. At the same time we are looking at how we can promote Lynn as a place for this kind of business, so it is a natural move for Lynn to provide the workers for those companies.
"If we can provide a ready-made workforce, this industry will start to look at Lynn."
Equipment for the program was donated from several area companies, looking to donate old- but still useable- items, valued in the thousands of dollars. Olson said the most generous donation came from Alexandria Real Estate Equities, which allowed those heading the curriculum effort in to an abandoned office building it owned in Cambridge. The company that went out of business in the office left behind everything from lab equipment to desk chairs and office supplies, which the teachers and administrators collected make the project a reality.
"Jeff McCormish OF Alexandria Real Estate opened the doors to us and it was unbelievable. We collected everything we could, and a lot of new stuff too- never used," Olson said. "We gathered a lot of stuff for the high school and forwarded a lot to NSCC as a token of appreciation for all of the help that they gave us."
Science Department Chair James Connick will head the curriculum at the school, along with volunteers Bill McHugh, Joan O'Connor and Maura Walsh, who all worked with Deb Bedell of NSCC in developing a curriculum for the first course.
O'Connor, who has over 15 years of biotech experience, will be teaching the course which she says will cover everything from hands-on lab exercises to product and marketing research.
"We will have a basic lab application course to introduce the students to biotech, and we will also cover things like statistical concepts and analysis and good manufacturing practices," she said. "This is a good opportunity to let them know that this opportunity is out there and if it is something they want to pursue, they can have an opportunity to try it up front, early on before getting to the college level."
The school will offer just one course this year, but expects to expand the program each year in the future beyond seniors to juniors and sophomores.
