$1.6 Million Grant To Support North Shore Colleges' Science Programs

SALEM, MA — A consortium of North Shore colleges and universities will use a $1.6 million state grant to invest in scientific learning through each of its campuses.

The funds will allow Salem State University, Endicott College, Gordon College and North Shore Community College to purchase industry-standard scientific instruments and support life sciences workforce development as well as STEM education.

"This grant will allow our students to experience the full range of research, from hypotheses and data collection to analysis and reporting of findings, on up-to-date equipment, providing skills that will be essential in their careers," Salem State Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences Brian Travers said.

Salem State University will use the funding to enhance undergraduate research components of the biology and chemistry curricula.

North Shore Community College will use the funds to support life sciences training at its Lynn campus and to increase laboratory courses at the existing biotechnology program at the Danvers campus.

"This funding from MLSC will enable us to prepare our students at North Shore Community College to enter the biotechnology workforce having experience using the same equipment found in industrial biotechnology labs," North Shore Community College Dean of STEM and Business Steven Hubbard said.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)