SRC/IRBPutting a Committee Together

and Serving Your Students

Heather W. Allen, Ph.D.Chair, Regional SRC/IRB STEM Education Outreach Programs

University of New Mexico

PresentedAt the

STEM Educator Professional Development Conference

Abstract

Presentation and workshop designed to educate middle and high school personnel from schools interested in fielding their own SRC/IRB.

Topics focused on: Who needs to be on the committees; Ideas for recruiting committee members; and How to appropriately and thoroughly review student research

protocols (human, microorganisms, hazardous “stuff”) for approval prior to the start of data collection.

Workshop was hands-on and active with participants learning: What good protocol paperwork looks like; How to do a thorough review and provide constructive feedback

to students; and The ins and outs of reviewing case study protocols.

The goal of the workshop was to empower schools to create their own SRC/IRB and promote scientific research activities in their science classes.

ApplicationThe safety of student researchers and their research subjects is of the utmost importance.

Participation in research projects: • Exposes students to issues of ethical risks and potential benefits;• Makes students consider humane treatment of humans as well

as animals; and • Makes them aware of potential legal implications associated

with their projects.

This workshop was designed to do just that. The intent of the presentation and activities offered was to promote scientific research in middle and high school science classes.

ReferencesIntel International Science & Engineering Fair International Rules and Guidelines. (2014). Retrieved from http://member. societyforscience.org/document.doc?id=396

U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Library. (1989, August 31). Federal Animal Welfare ACT (AWA), 9 CFR Parts 1, 2, and 3 Retrieved from http://awic.nal.usda. gov/final-rules-animal-welfare-9-cfr-parts-1-2-and-3 .

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. (1979, April 18). The Belmont Report, Human Subjects Research, 45 CFR 46. Retrieved from http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/humansubjects/ guidance/belmont.html .

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. (2009, January 15). Protection of Human Subjects, 45 CFR 46. Retrieved from http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/policy/ohrpregulations.pdf .