Project Summary

The Soybeans in the Classroom Project began in 1999 through collaboration of the Abernathy Science Education Center at Greenbush, Pittsburg State University, and the Kansas Soybean Commission.

Abernathy Science Education Center
Since opening in 1996, the Science Education Center has continued to expand facilities and programming and now serves about 12,000 students, teachers, and community members each year with field trip programming, workshops, and loanable resources, and an untold number via the Internet. The Science Center is supported financially by competitive grants, a private charitable trust, and membership fees.

Pittsburg State University
PSU's Biology Department has played a vital role in providing faculty and expertise to the Soybean project. Drs. Nancy Brooker and Cindy Ford provide curriculum, instruction, and consultation. Both have extensive backgrounds and field work in plant science.

Kansas Soybean Commission
The Kansas Soybean Commission provides funding for the program. It's members serve as an unofficial advisory board for the grant each year as they hear a report on grant activities and results. In 2000, the grant provided funding for the publication of the Soybean Classroom Activities Manual. Members on the Commission at that time were: Greg Krissek, Director; Lois Niemann, Robert Litch, Edward Mader, Neil Martin, Ronald Maike, Jerry Wyse, Harold Kraus, and Terry Gaunt.