HudsonAlpha Educational Outreach

Attention North Alabama 4th - 12th grade educators: HudsonAlpha is hosting an educator training workshop all about Invention Convention Alabama on June 16th. Invention Convention is an innovation-focused student competition program that was rolled out across the state this past year. We cannot wait to see our Alabama winners compete at the national level in Michigan next week and are excited to start a new program year in August.

If you are a 4th-12th grade educator (in school or out of school) and want to learn more about the program and what it would look like to bring this to your school/students, plan to join us at HudsonAlpha on June 16th.

Register here:

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In honor of DNA Day (tomorrow), WLRH The Curiosity Squad host, Alex Hall, visited HudsonAlpha to record an episode about all things DNA and how HudsonAlpha scientists and companies are using the power of DNA to improve life. Have you heard the episode air this week over on .3 Huntsville? It’s also available for listen anytime on the web. Swipe for the line up of speakers. Happy DNA Day from all of us at HudsonAlpha Education! 🧬

https://wlrh.org/episode/the-curiosity-squad-episode-29-dna-day/

National Science Teachers Association 2026 is in the books. Members of the HudsonAlpha Educational Outreach team traveled to Anaheim, CA last week to present, learn, and network with science education leaders from across the nation. We presented sessions on engaging middle school students in authentic science, digital bioinformatics resources, and genetic literacy/misconceptions. And we came home with new connections and resources to strengthen our programs. 🧬

The past four weeks of SPARK at Madison County Elementary have been truly special! 🧬

What a day! 👏

Last Friday was our HudsonAlpha CODE Student Symposium, one of the best days of the year because it truly showcases the power of genomics education in action.

We celebrated a record-breaking 117 poster presentations and more than a dozen platform talks from undergraduate students doing authentic genomics research. Students from 12 colleges and universities across Alabama shared work in bioinformatics and the functional impact of gene variation—real science, real data, and real discovery.

The CODE program at HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology is all about empowering college faculty to mentor student researchers, and this symposium is where all of that hard work comes to life.

This program, and the incredible opportunities it creates for students, is made possible through support from the National Science Foundation.

Shoutout to Michele Morris, who has led this program from the very beginning and continues to grow its impact year after year.

So proud of our team and these students. The future of science is in good hands. 💡



Learn more: https://www.hudsonalpha.org/code/

⏰ Registration is officially open for HudsonAlpha student summer programs! Do you know an upcoming 6th - 12th grader who would enjoy spending part of their summer immersed in genomics and biotech with HudsonAlpha?

Learn more about this summers line up of programs on the web at HudsonAlpha.org/summer-student-programs

Space is limited and spots fill up fast! ☀️

Happy National Strawberry Day! 🍓

At HudsonAlpha Educational Outreach, strawberries aren’t just a snack… they’re a science superstar.

Through a simple strawberry DNA extraction experiment (one we do thousands of times each year!), students use everyday supplies from the grocery store and a few easy steps to unlock something incredible. What starts with a whole strawberry ends with a visible clump of DNA.

It’s hands-on. It’s memorable. And for so many students, it’s a “berry” exciting way to make science come to life.

Our first HudsonAlpha U event of 2026 kicked off Tuesday evening!

Led by Kelly East, HudsonAlpha Vice President for Educational Outreach, and special guest Madelene Loftin, HudsonAlpha Director of Educator Professional Learning, it was an evening of storytelling and recent scientific discoveries in genomics and biotech.

We explored breakthroughs from the past year that are reshaping our understanding of human history, medicine, and food security.

Missed it? The recording will be available on YouTube soon. Stay tuned!

Spots are still available for the spring break edition of BioSkills at HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology! 🧬✨

This one-week, cutting-edge experience gives high school students (grades 9–12) hands-on training in the foundations of biotechnology lab skills — from core techniques to real-world applications used by today’s scientists.

If you know a student who’s curious about science and looking for an exciting way to spend spring break, this is it.

🔬 Learn more & register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bioskills-biotechnology-skills-level-1-march-16-19-2026-tickets-1981773590156?aff=oddtdtcreator

Tag or share with a high schooler who’s ready to step into the lab!