ABE's 1 Millionth Student Celebration

Celebrating 1,000,000 Students Worldwide

On 9 September 2024, after more than 30 years, the ABE program celebrated its 1 millionth student reached. 

What started at a single school in Thousand Oaks, California, has grown to reach 27 sites within 16 countries. Most recently the program has spread to Brazil, Mexico, and South Africa.

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We are honored to share this program with so many inquisitive, hard-working students around the globe, especially those who have traditionally had less access to hands-on science.

 

How Did We Celebrate?

ABE program sites across the globe shared their excited about this milestone by posting celebratory messages on social media and taking photos using props furnished by the Program Office. 

ABE Ireland ramped up the celebration by combining it with their own 10th anniversary. Festive events included special guests Taoiseach Simon Harris and Amgen CEO Bob Bradway. Read this article about the event.

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Who Are Our Students?

Here is just a small sample of the million students who have experienced ABE since 1990.

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What Does One Million Look Like?

It’s easy to say “1 million,” but what does a million really look like in the real world?

What Do Our Students Say?

  • I hope to become a research scientist one day. Of course, no high school lab can compare to the arduous research and amount of dead ends people in labs face, but getting a glimpse of the collaboration in the lab and dedication of scientists who eventually make big discoveries was rewarding.

    - ABE Washington State

  • It wasn't until doing ABE that I knew genetics was the sort of thing I wanted to pursue. I found having an end goal, of making fluorescent bacteria, peaked my interested right from the beginning.

    - ABE Australia student

  • ABE is a useful way for students like me to get in contact with a professional work environment. It is an exciting and helpful experience for a future work career, and mostly a useful way to turn into reality what can be just read on school books!!!

    - ABE Italy student

  • ABE labs have most definitely changed my perspective on my educational path. … Now I have concluded that I will major in chemistry, hoping to soon fulfill my dream of researching more about genetic diseases.

    — ABE Greater Los Angeles student

  • I had the best science lessons of my life thanks to ABE. If I don't become a physicist, I would love to progress in genetics because it is in your hands to change the fate of all humanity for the better

    - ABE Türkiye student

     

 

 

How Did We Get Here?

Though ABE now reaches 90,000 students and 1,500 teachers each year, the program had humble beginnings. In 1990, leaders at Amgen set out to help teach high school students in their community about biotechnology. Working with local teachers and using the latest tools and science, they created ABE. The program was rolled out to just 20 schools that year but had grown to 30 schools by the school year’s end.

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Now, 34 years later, approximately 4,500 science educators have participated in ABE, bringing biotech education to over 1,000,000 students worldwide, and we’re still growing.

We Couldn’t Have Done It Without You!

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the ABE teachers, colleagues,  friends,  and partnering institutions for their unwavering dedication and tireless efforts over the past 34 years in fostering biotechnology education among countless students. Their commitment to bringing hands-on learning experiences and innovative curriculum into classrooms has been instrumental in shaping the next generation of scientists, researchers, and leaders in biotechnology. Their passion for education and determination to make science accessible to all have truly made a difference in the lives of so many.

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