Sen. Nick Jordan to discuss role of Kansas schools in the Kansas Bioscience Initiative

In April, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius signed into law the Kansas Economic Growth Act, which was created to advance the state's bioscience and research base. Over a 10-year period, $500 million will be spent to help the state build off its strengths in the area of bioscience and promote the growth of bioscience-related jobs.

Senator Nick Jordan (R-Shawnee), co-sponsor of the Kansas Bioscience Initiative will be on the Emporia State University campus, Oct. 11. He will discuss the role of Kansas schools in the Kansas Bioscience Initiative at a luncheon, that will be held in the ESU Memorial Union Kanza Room at 12:30 p.m. Senator Jim Barnett (R-Emporia) will also be attending the luncheon.

District superintendents, junior and senior high school math and science teachers, university math and science educators and high school counselors from seven counties will be attending the luncheon. The counties are Lyon , Chase, Osage, Coffey, Marion , Greenwood and Wabaunsee.

The Kansas Bioscience Initiative will have an impact on all students from elementary to college. Teachers, principals, superintendents and professors will play a very important part in the bioscience industry. They have the responsibility to prepare students for the many jobs the initiative is going to bring to the state.

Kansas universities will benefit from the Kansas Bioscience Initiative through the increased recruiting of eminent scholars. Also, the initiative will provide additional funding that is necessary for the construction and ongoing maintenance of bioscience research facilities at Kansas universities.

Kansas already has a good start in the field of bioscience; Kansas is home to more than 160 bioscience companies employing 11,000 to 13,000 people.

Although Kansas has a good start in the field of bioscience, the bioscience industry is a new frontier for the state of Kansas and Kansas universities. The bioscience initiative is expected to generate more than 20,000 bioscience company and research institution jobs and have a multi-billion dollar economic impact in Kansas

ESU is already getting prepared for the new opportunities that will arise from the initiative, with their newest major, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BMB). A degree in this high demand field emphasizes development of new therapeutic strategies for disease treatment, innovative ways to effectively fight bio-terrorism, improve agricultural yields, or solve mysteries utilizing forensic analysis.

Last Updated July 2, 2007>