Bio-Rad’s BacTalk™ Cell Signaling Kit has been named the winner of the Educators Pick Best of STEM 2026 Award in the category of Trailblazer: Biotechnology Innovator. It was also named a finalist for Hands-on Learning for High School.
The Educators Pick Best of STEM Awards is the only STEM education awards program judged by credentialed classroom teachers and science educators.
Bio-Rad's BacTalk Cell Signaling Kit was recognized for helping students explore cellular communication through the natural phenomena of bioluminescence and quorum sensing in Vibrio bacteria. "Cell signaling is one of the hardest topics to teach well. Bio-Rad's BacTalk Kit turns signal transduction into a visible, testable experiment where the glow is the readout of a pathway," remarked one educator. Another said, "BacTalk fills a real gap. A strong signaling lab for AP Bio, IB Bio, general biology, and undergraduate courses is hard to find."
Bryony Ruegg, Director of the Life Science Education Group at Bio-Rad (Bio-Rad Explorer Program), said, “For nearly 30 years, the Bio-Rad Explorer Program has been built on the idea that students learn best by doing real science. Being named a Best of STEM winner affirms that the BacTalk Cell Signaling Kit is doing exactly what we set out to do: making cutting-edge biology accessible and exciting for the next generation of scientists.”
The BacTalk Cell Signaling Kit is a hands-on lab activity built around nonpathogenic strains of Vibrio campbellii, the bacteria best known for causing ocean bioluminescence. Bio-Rad engineered these strains for environmental safety and robust responses, making them ideal for classroom use. Students culture the bacteria and investigate how genetic mutations and chemical inhibitors affect light production, gaining a vivid introduction to cellular communication. The kit aligns with AP Biology, IB Biology, and Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), and incorporates Anchored Inquiry Learning and claim—evidence—reasoning practices.
For more information about the kit, visit bio-rad.com/bactalk.
For more information about the Educators Pick Best of STEM Awards, visit www.bestofstemawards.com.
About the Bio-Rad Explorer Program
For almost 30 years, the Bio-Rad Explorer Program has supported teachers in their quest to spark their students' interest in life sciences by offering innovative and engaging hands-on activities that connect concepts with techniques in the context of real-world scenarios. The inquiry-based kits integrate multiple core content subjects into a single lab or a multiweek course to teach students about a variety of life science topics, including DNA, disease, proteomics, ecosystems, green fluorescent protein, and much more. Please visit explorer.bio-rad.com to learn more about the Bio-Rad Explorer Program.