The Barcoding Life’s Matrix project has given my students the incredible opportunity to do authentic scientific research and to contribute to an international scientific initiative that will have a major impact on the future investigation and preservation of Earth's biodiversity. As a direct result of this experience, my students have become more engaged and more motivated in their learning. They are more analytical and critical in interpreting and integrating data and other information to achieve a deeper understanding of underlying concepts. The students have also become more curious and excited about science and scientific issues. This program is the epitome of what the Next Generation Science Standards is attempting to accomplish, and verifies that science education is infinitely more effective when it is in-depth, tied to authentic research, and when it imparts personal meaning and real-world engagement to students.