Science Express brings Cool to every school

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"C'mon in guys!"

Bruce Jacobson is Director of Bioscience Outreach for St. Cloud State University.

These days that means taking a fully tricked out semi to schools in Central Minnesota to help kids learn about science, and on this day, he's welcoming students from Rockford Middle School to what is really a mobile classroom.

It's called the Science Express-- loaded with expensive science gear.

The truck was donated by Medtronic, and retrofitted by Innovative Laboratory Systems. Other businesses, including 3M, Everything Signs, and Holdingford donate materials and expertise.

"There is no district that is going to have the facilities that we're bringing," says Jacobson.

Schools are eagerly signing up.

"When they actually get to come out and work with the scientists, or see the partnerships among other businesses, they actually get to see what other career possibilities are out there for them," says Marie Flanary, principal of Rockford Middle School.

Today students are learning how to extract DNA from fruit.

It's a bit different from their usual classroom experience.

"We do, like, little tests with magnets and stuff," says 6th grader Rebecca Moon.

To see how it works, click on the video link.

To learn more about Science Express, and the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Bioscience Initiative behind it, click here.

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