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| 18 Mar 2026 | |
| WIB-San Francisco Bay Area News |
On January 14, 2026, and again on March 18, 2026, Mia Rutenberg, an Ambassador for Young Women In Bio (YWIB) from the San Francisco Bay Area, brought biology to life for 50 eighth graders in a very hands-on way at a math and science classroom at Tierra Linda Middle School.
Each session kicked off with Mia walking the students through a lively presentation on DNA—breaking down its structure and explaining how genetic transcription works. With the help of slides and short videos, she turned what can be pretty complex molecular biology into something much easier (and more interesting!) to understand.
Using toothpicks, Red Vines, and gummy bears, students built their own edible versions of DNA strands. No two models looked exactly alike, which sparked great conversations about how real DNA also has natural variation from person to person.
To wrap things up, everyone got to show off their creations in a fun show-and-tell. Mia also gave a quick introduction to the YWIB Ambassador Program so students could learn more about how they could get involved in STEM outreach themselves. During the second session, she added a round of trivia questions that kept the energy high and helped reinforce key ideas from the lesson.
Both events turned molecular biology into something interactive, memorable, and fun—giving students a sneak peek into high school-level science while sparking curiosity about STEM and introducing them to what Young Women In Bio (YWIB) is all about.
Submitted by Priya Baichoo
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