We offer training for local and national informal science/nature center and conservation organization staff who are interested in collaborating with the DNALC to host Citizen DNA Barcode Network events. Staff must attend a DNA barcoding workshop before they may host CDBN programming. In the DNA barcoding workshop, participants will be introduced to the program, and learn campaign organism collection techniques, all the biochemical and bioinformatics techniques required for DNA barcoding, and how to implement DNA barcoding activities that align with collaborator programming.
Please contact us to inquire about training opportunities for out-of-state facilities, or to be connected with local trained faculty who may assist with event planning and implementation for trained collaborators.
TRAINING WORKSHOP
DNA Barcoding Workshop
Funded by the NIH NIGMS Science Education Partnership Award
The Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory DNA Learning Center (DNALC) is offering a five-day, in-person workshop on DNA barcoding for the community-science driven Citizen DNA Barcode Network (CDBN) program. This free workshop is intended for science and nature enthusiasts who are interested in becoming collaborators of CDBN, and CDBN staff at collaborating institutions.
July 28–August 1, 2025, 9:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
at Dolan DNA Learning Center, Cold Spring Harbor, NY
Travel and housing will NOT be covered by the DNALC.
(Register by July 18, 2025)
Participants in this workshop will learn:
- Introduction to DNA barcoding and biodiversity
- Sample collection and documentation
- DNA extraction
- Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
- Gel electrophoresis
- Bioinformatics using DNA Subway’s Blue Line
- Phylogenetics
- Program implementation
The DNALC developed the Citizen DNA Barcode Network in collaboration with the New York Hall of Science. Just as the unique pattern of bars in a universal product code (UPC) identifies each consumer product, a “DNA barcode” is a unique pattern of DNA sequence that identifies each living thing. Science centers, nature preserves, and other informal science education facilities introduce DNA barcoding and biodiversity to citizen scientists as they obtain DNA sequences to identify potentially harmful, beneficial, and indicator insect species. Program participants provide important species barcode sequence and location information to global biodiversity databases that aim to advance range maps and show how species are responding to environmental change.
Additional training opportunities to be determined.
