Oak Crest Institute of Science

Oak Crest serves as a valuable resource to local teachers, students, and schools. We provide needed space, support and expertise to enhance student learning and the community at large. Teachers go back into the classroom with the support and connections fostered with Oak Crest researchers and other teachers. They can engage their students in the coming years with cutting-edge scientific knowledge and fresh perspective.
Oak Crest has a wide variety of programs that reach high school students and local K-12 teachers. Students and teachers can gain hands-on laboratory experience under the mentorship of a research scientist through participation in programs such as the Summer Research Connection (SRC) program or the Environmental Science Boot Camthe Greater Los Angeles Science Alliance (GLASA) serves to bring together local professionals and outreach leaders in science, technology, engineering, and math.
Oak Crest coordinates the Workforce Innovation Partnership grant (WIP), a part of the Pasadena City College-Glendale Community College Career Technical Education Community Collaborative(http://www.ctecentral.org/cte_in_action/39) .  As part of the WIP, Oak Crest develops and coordinates a series of professional development workshops for local high school science teachers that is focused on biotechnology and environmental science.  These workshops are free and focus on giving teachers knowledge about specific scientific topics and providing ideas for hands-on activities the teachers can use to teach these subjects.  Past workshop topics include bioinformatics, forensic science, nanotechnology, biofuels, and water quality analysis.  Through its role in the WIP, Oak Crest also serves as a valuable resource to local teachers and schools, providing needed space, support, and expertise to enhance their ability to serve their students. 
 
Oak Crest is a founding organization and a member of the Steering Committee of the Greater Los Angeles Science Alliance (GLASA(http://www.glasciencealliance.org/) ), a network of professionals with a commitment to K-12 outreach in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Through quarterly networking events, monthly e-newsletters, and access to postings on the GLASA webpage, GLASA provides opportunities for its members to share and leverage resources and create synergistic relationships, thereby enhancing K-12 student literacy and apprecation of STEM.