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Erica Hitzhusen shares her process of growing soybeans in the classroom with fellow science teachers at SECO 2025. In their windowless classroom, Erica Hitzhusen’s 8th grade students grow soybeans. “A lot of my students don’t have any experience…

Rachel Sanders teaches high school bioresearch. Partnering with GrowNextGen, she developed a unit for students to create a wide variety of products from soybeans. “These activities give them the opportunity to create items they like—ice cream, lip…

Three Ohio students demonstrated the power of agriculture-based research at State Science Day, hosted by the Ohio Academy of Science. Their projects earned top honors from the Ohio Soybean Council Foundation, which awards the Ohio Bioscience 1st…

Black soldier flies have a lifespan of only about 40 days, but what they can accomplish in those 40 days could change agriculture. Raised on farms and studied by entomologists, these flies, during their larval stage, can produce fertilizer from…

A natural phenomenon swarmed the midwest one summer. Two broods of cicadas emerged simultaneously, an event that won’t happen again until 2245. No one knows (yet) how cicadas synchronize their emergence, or how they live the longest of any insect on…

When: Use the Four Notes Summary technique at the end of a class period, the end of a week, the end of a unit, or after you present to your peers. This technique is useful anytime you need to synthesize ideas. Prepare: On the board, mark four…

Grace Whitmore’s journey from high school graduate to aspiring entomologist at The Ohio State University showcases the power of integrating agriculture into science education. “I don’t think there’s a single part about science that cannot be tied…

In an effort to build stability into their food system, the European Parliament passed legislation to support gene-edited plants. “New Genomic Techniques are crucial to strengthen Europe’s food security and to green our agricultural production. The…

The soy milk your students make during their GrowNextGen food science lessons in the classroom has a new, innovative, medical application. By spinning soy protein isolates, bioengineers can create fabric-like patches of soy “skin” and sprayable…

Erin Molden teaches science at Kettering Fairmont High School. With a background in biomedical research and a knack for engaging students, she’s geeked about bringing biotechnology to her students. “One of my students’ favorite labs is when we make…

Robots copy plants for high-tech innovation Imagine if drones had fingers. Drones already provide high-tech solutions, known as precision agriculture, to nutrient-managing growers across the globe. Precision ag could do even more to support food…

Ohio teachers lead the way in science education. Amanda Nothstine teaches 7th and 8th grade science at Springboro Junior High– and her passion is contagious! Amanda uses her own teaching experience to equip teachers across the state with…