Biobus – The Artists Behind the Brand
The creative team at BioBus are the true scientists, teachers, and artists behind our fortunate company. We are proud to be partnered with one of the most innovative and special resources in our community. Biobus reaches so many of our youth who from this amazing experience will go on to do amazing things in the future!
BioBus's mission is to help minority, female, and low-income K - 12 and college students in New York City discover, explore, and pursue science. Through this work, we envision a world where all people have the opportunity to reach their full scientific potential. Since 2008, 300,000 students at more than 800 schools have discovered the thrill of scientific discovery, with many embarking on a path of scientific exploration and sustained pursuit. Watch our mission video below, join current BioBus at Home programs, and learn about our COVID-19 response.
Students discover the excitement of hands-on science aboard our Mobile Labs, equipped with $75,000 microscope and staffed by scientists. Parked in front of a school, entire classes of pre-K through twelfth-grade students climb on board for inquiry-based, hands-on, standards-aligned lab sessions.
After 45-minutes aboard a BioBus Mobile Lab, students have more positive attitudes towards science and want to do more. Eight to twelve week BioBus “Explore” programs at existing schools and community centers provide the students opportunities to develop their own research practice. At the same time, BioBus scientists build site staffs capacity to run inquiry-based research programs, as well as help equip sites with hardware and supplies.
We further support our students in becoming tomorrow’s scientific leaders through our “Pursue” paid internships for high school and college students. BioBus interns develop an independent science research project while serving as mentors to many of our younger students through teaching. Pursue and some Explore programs are located at BioBase Harlem @ Columbias Zuckerman Institute. At this community lab, students work side-by-side with BioBus scientists and use the same advanced research microscopes found aboard our mobile labs.
BioBus is not a museum. BioBus is not a classroom. BioBus is not a fairground ride. BioBus is not even (always) a bus. BioBus is the research science lab that is in front of your school, at your block party, in front of your neighborhood park, in your summer camp, and at the college you want to attend. From the time you are four years old until college and beyond, BioBus supports your journey to make science part of your life, wherever that journey leads.
BioBus Impact on the world!
Mobile science laboratories have been identified as an important part of improving science education by NYC elected officials, (1) the National Institutes of Health, (2) and the National Academy of Sciences. (3) 80% of our staff are from groups underrepresented in STEM fields, an important factor in inspiring the primarily black, Hispanic, and female students with whom we work. (4,5) 95% of teachers requesting return visits from the BioBus because of the passion for science it ignites in their students. 65% of our students are African American or Latino. Over two-thirds of the schools the BioBus visits serve low-income communities. Internal and external research-level evaluations show significant positive impacts on student attitudes towards science following BioBus programs. Eighty-four percent of teachers rate the BioBus as equally, more, or much more valuable to their students as compared to a visit to the American Museum of Natural History, the New York Hall of Science, or the Liberty Science Center. Survey results and conversations with parents confirm that many students experience a dramatic positive shift in their attitudes towards science as a result of enrolling in BioBase courses.