 
Whether we realize it or not, every day we ask ourselves critical questions that involve science. Should I vaccinate my child? Should I buy a hybrid car? Do pesticides on food harm me and my family?
For this reason, students graduating from K-12 schools need to develop a basic level of scientific literacy. Whether addressing a mundane or momentous issue, a solid foundation in the sciences is critical for individual success and advancement as a society. This reality drove the Institute for Systems Biology to take a unique step among research institutes and create the Center for Inquiry Science.
The mission of the Center for Inquiry Science is to enable educators to produce scientifically literate students by creating and supporting collaborative partnerships among schools, districts and community stakeholders that are designed to train and support science teachers.
In 2009, the Center for Inquiry Science:
- supported science educators from 44 school districts that serve 45 percent of the student population in Washington state;
- hosted 99 professional development sessions attended by more than 800 science educators over the course of 255 workshop days; and,
- funded its operations through approximately $1 million in annual grants from federal and state agencies, as well as with philanthropic support from corporations, foundations and individuals
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