The goal of the Rice Blast Genomics (RBG) Project is to develop genomic resources for understanding fungal-host interactions, and to develop durable, environmentally sound strategies to manage rice blast disease. A complete understanding of these interactions requires knowledge of both the pathogen and the host.

The project is a collaboration between 6 universities: NC State University,, Texas A&M University, University of Arizona, Purdue University, University of Kentucky and Ohio State University. Funding for the project will end in 2006. For more information about the project visit the Fungal Genomics Laboratory at NC State.

About Outreach
The K-12 educational outreach facilitated by The Science House provides opportunities for high school students to visualize connections between the activities of the research scientist and real world applications. We will introduce students to the promising new science of genomics by providing them with activities and experiences that reflect the research activities of the genomic scientists involved in studying the rice blast pathogen.

The educational outreach component will include training workshops for high school level teachers, as well as laboratory activity manuals, research activities developed by graduate students, and kits that contain materials to support the research activities. The kits will be available to teachers who have completed the workshop and will contain all the materials necessary to conduct the research activities with their students. The kits will be loaned to teachers on a rotational basis. Graduate students involved in the project will maintain the kits and serve as a “Help Desk” for the teachers as they begin to use the research activities in their classrooms.