Learn about the impacts of PGED’s work through the words of our colleagues and collaborators, our annual reports, awards, advisory work, and publications.

Hear from Our Community

People are at the core of everything we do at PGED. We are grateful to our colleagues and collaborators who kindly shared with us what our work has meant to them. This selection of anonymous testimonials come from educators who have used our resources in their classrooms or have participated in our professional development workshops.

“Students were asking great questions and sharing ideas and thoughts – all at the [Middle School] level.”

“I was 100% just amazed and grateful and appreciative of how open the [PGED] presenters were to us and the type of questions we’d ask and willingness to have conversations we don’t normally have in this state.”

“What struck me was how carefully the wonderful people at PGED have put together socially, culturally relevant applications of biotechnology…These are the conversations my kids need to be having now.”

“My kids loved talking about bioethics, it was the highlight of their year…the various viewpoints in the classroom, and being able to discuss them respectfully, to say, ‘I don’t agree with what you’re saying, but I understand….’ That’s amazing to see.”

“The information is delivered…with respect that is shown to all humanity.”

“This lesson was a thoughtful and thorough overview, I look forward to using such a professional PPT. I appreciated the conversation with peers.”

“Nice overview…The lecture touched on many different areas of genetics, giving enough depth that the students should be learning something, but not too details that they’ll get too caught up in information overload. There was a little bit of something for everyone (ancestry, law/prosecution, privacy, first nations and cultural differences, genetic testing for risk, transplants and disease correction…), showing how genetics touches all parts of our lives.”

“Fantastic module. So important to bring to the conversation, including the anti-eugenics movement. I liked the wide variety of topics to highlight different areas of genetics.”

Annual Reports

PGED hosts and participates in events, workshops, festivals, and more with a variety of communities every year. Our team has compiled the highlights for our annual reports.

Funding & Awards

Awards

  • 2024 Faith & Health Fellowship: Interfaith America named PGED’s Director of Programs, Marnie Gelbart, to their inaugural cohort of Faith & Health Fellows. (2024-2025)
  • 2022 Lowell Thomas Award: The Explorers Club bestowed this honor on PGED’s Director, Ting Wu, for her contributions to science communication in genetics.
  • 2021 George W. Beadle Award: The Genetics Society of America presented PGED’s Director Ting Wu with this award for her outstanding contributions to the community of genetics researchers.
  • 2014 Phillip Marcoux Award: The Maine Science Teachers’ Association honored PGED’s Director of Education, Dana Waring, with this award for her successes in informal science education in the state of Maine.

Federal Grants

Supporters

PGED is grateful to the individuals and organizations who have generously provided funding to support our mission, including those listed below.

Dr. Jennifer Doudna and Dr. Jamie Cate matched their 2016 support of PGED to support engagement with faith communities (2017)

Dr.  Jennifer Doudna donated her Gairdner Award for her pioneering work on CRISPR genome editing to PGED because of her commitment to the importance of public engagement on genetics and ensuring that diverse values and voices are heard in these conversations. (2016)

Thanks to seed funding from PGED’s home Department of Genetics at HMS, PGED transitioned from a volunteer effort launched in the laboratory of our Director, Ting Wu, in 2006 to a program with dedicated staff. The Department’s support has continued as a recognition of the responsibility and commitment we hold to engage with all communities on genetics, particularly the potential benefits and implications for people’s lives (2011 – on-going).

Dr. Jennifer Doudna stands with three other people as she poses with her Gairdner Award.
Dr. Jennifer Doudna accepts the Gairdner Award. Image: Gairdner Foundation / Della Rollins

Selected Consultancies

In the Media

Here is a selection of publications that cover our work and programs.

PGED Publications

In addition to our resources, PGED also occasionally contributes articles to academic journals and blogs.

Complete List of Media Coverage & Publications

Selected PGED Team Advisory Roles

In addition to our own work, PGED staff serve as leaders and advisors to nationally recognized organizations on their education and engagement initiatives.

American Association of Biological Anthropologists

 

Education Committee Co-Chair (Rob, 2022–present)

New England Regional Genetics Group, Inc.

 

Executive Committee Secretary (Gill, 2020–Dec 2024)

PBS WETA

 

Community Engagement Advisory Group for The Gene: An Intimate History documentary film (Robin, 2019–2020)

American Society of Human Genetics

 

Information & Education Committee and Public Education & Awareness Committee (Marnie, 2015-2020)

Genetics Society of America

 

Public Communication & Engagement Working Group (Marnie, 2018)

CRISPRcon: Conversations on Science, Society & the Future of Gene Editing

 

Steering Committee (Marnie, 2017-2018)

National Human Genome Research Institute

 

Community Engagement Working Group for the Genomic Literacy, Education, & Engagement Initiative (Marnie, 2016-2017)

Smithsonian Institution

 

Education Advisory Board for the Genome: Unlocking Life’s Code exhibit (Marnie, 2012-2013)