David Micklos honored with 2026 genetics education prize

David Micklos, who leads Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory’s DNA Learning Center (DNALC), has received the National Association of Biology Teachers’ 2026 Genetics Education Award. The honor recognizes his work in science education and the center’s efforts to support student learning and teacher development.

Micklos established the DNALC in 1988. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory identifies it as the first science center dedicated to public education in genetics. The announcement did not give further information about the award’s selection process or other nominees.

Micklos traced his interest in teaching to his service as a Peace Corps volunteer at a boarding school in Botswana. He said that after moving into molecular biology, he wanted to create straightforward lab exercises that would let students work directly with experiments.

A focus on experiments and teacher training

The DNALC developed from that goal of making laboratory work accessible to students. Today, its offerings include teaching materials, experiments, longer-term research projects and professional development for educators.

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory reports that DNALC programs serve more than 500,000 pre-college students in the United States annually. Micklos said its training has also reached many thousands of National Association of Biology Teachers members over the years.

Programs extend beyond the United States

The center’s approach has spread internationally, with 19 programs licensed by or based on DNALC programming, according to the laboratory. These include programs in Austria, China and Nigeria.

The award announcement did not outline new projects associated with the recognition or say when the award would be presented. It also offered no indication that the DNALC would alter its existing work, which includes educational resources, student research opportunities and training for teachers.

This report draws on information from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.