Biology Institute at Exeter

The Biology Institute at Exeter is a lab-based experience for high school educators to explore content and student-centered instruction in biology through the lens of equity and inclusion.

During the five-day conference, participants will be introduced to the collaborative, student-centered Harkness pedagogy, engage in daily lab and discussion sessions and take field trips in the New Hampshire coastal area surrounding Phillips Exeter Academy’s campus. Participants will engage from both the student and teacher perspective while delving into the topics of ecology and molecular biology.

Daily programming runs from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. with optional evening activities. Mornings begin with article review and the first of two daily labs. Harkness discussions, teacher talks and reflections and data analysis follow the labs. Labs may include microscope work, citizen science protocols and the latest molecular biology techniques.  

In 2024 participants visited the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve at Laudholm Farm to learn from field biologists about their research on the impacts of climate change to estuaries and learn from educational coordinators regarding how to use the National SWMP data in our classrooms.