Stacy Trosin

Trosin’s innovative teaching idea, “Antibiotic Resistance in Soil,” is designed to increase student engagement and understanding of difficult content in AP environmental science through project-based learning, allowing students to explore real-world environmental concerns. Through Tufts University’s PARE project (Prevalence of Antibiotic Resistance in the Environment), students will act as citizen scientists, collecting and analyzing samples from areas they suspect may harbor resistant bacteria. With miniPCR’s electrophoresis and thermocycler systems, students can test hypotheses and contribute data to a national database. This experience connects students to authentic science, fosters collaboration and promotes real environmental impact. Trosin believes that although the curriculum is strong, it lacks modern lab practices used by environmental scientists. She believes students will benefit from learning techniques like PCR and electrophoresis to address issues such as antibiotic resistance in soil often caused by animal waste. The Voya grant will be used to purchase electrophoresis machines.