From how to use the scientific method to learn about live crickets -- such as what they eat and when they chirp -- to bird and teeth adaptations, gene mapping, space biology and the functions of spicy food, these topics are some of the workshops offered by Cornell Jan. 19-20 for new teachers and students enrolled in college programs leading to certification in secondary education.

The annual hands-on event, held the weekend of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, includes 12 workshops to help improve the teaching of science in area schools. Sponsored by the Cornell Institute for Biology Teachers (CIBT), the workshops are geared for elementary through high school teachers and school administrators.

CIBT, which offers programs throughout the year as well as extensive classroom resources at http://cibt.bio.cornell.edu, is supported by grants from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the New York State Center for Advanced Technology.