Biology Workshops
THE CLINICAL LABORATORY: A VIEW FROM THE OTHER SIDE (ASCLS-IA)
What happens to your blood after it has been drawn? Taking you into the world of results, the other side of what you see. Help to diagnose patients and help with their care. Solve the mysteries that lay beyond the Doctor’s office or ER. Looking for a challenge, a mystery, or just a new perspective? Come check out the view from the “other side.”
CSI-CVSS (Dr. Kimran Buckholz and Dr. Johanna Foster)
A murder has occurred right here in Waverly but what was the murder weapon? Be the sleuth and figure it out. All participants will observe the crime scene, collect information, and then use the Biology Department’s equipment and greenhouse to analyze the data. Students will have to identify organisms and other materials found at the crime scene, research their potential influence on the outcome, and present their findings to the rest of the group.
INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF NEUROSCIENCE (Dr. Samantha Larimer, Dr. Cynthia Bane, and Dr. Mark McDermott)
Neuroscience is a melding of biology and psychology to study the biological basis of behavior. Essentially, neuroscience asks how humans detect their environment and respond to it. Students will examine the master control center of behavior (the brain) through dissection of a sheep brain, and then investigate some of the things that the brain allows humans to do. Investigations will include looking at the electrical activity of their own brains, as well as other physiological measures that will allow them to determine how their body responds to various environmental stimuli.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF NUCLEIC ACIDS (Dr. J. Keith McClung and Dr. David McCullough)
Students will learn about the applications of molecular biology and how DNA manipulations are carried out and used to study problems in biology and serve society as well. Students will experiment with methods used to analyze DNA with restriction enzymes and perform DNA fingerprint analysis. Students will also learn about the role of pedigree analysis and genetic markers in disease detection.
CELLS AND CELL STRUCTURES (Dr. Roy Ventullo and Dr. Stephanie Toering Peters)
“...by the help of microscopes there is nothing so small, as to escape our inquiry” (Robert Hooke, 1664). Microscopy is proving to be one of the most versatile and widely used techniques of modern biology. Participants will prepare various samples, including bacteria, transgenic fruit flies, and their own cheek cells to examine via microscopy. Participants will use light microscopy with fluorescence, differential interference contrast, polarized, and phase contrast for optimal visualization of the different samples. Participants will also use the scanning electron microscope to view samples with higher resolution.
MR. JOHNSON’S WORKOUT (Dr. Ed Westen)
Problem-Based Learning (PBL) approaches are becoming increasingly prevalent in medical education. This workshop will present an example of a medical school PBL entitled “Mr. Johnson’s Workout.” Participants will be presented with a patient’s history and physical exam results. From there, they will use available resources, each other, and a continuing interaction with the group leader to diagnose the patient’s illness. Participation in this workshop will provide an appreciation for the problem-solving endeavor that is medicine as well as give students their first experience with PBL.
Chemistry and Biochemistry Workshops
EXPLORING NANOTECHNOLOGY WITH CHEMISTRY (Dr. Christine DeVriesand Dr. Jingqiu Hu)
From advances in medicine & computer chips to paint & cosmetics, we hear that popular buzzword nanotechnology, but what does it really mean? What makes tiny materials so special? Will nanotechnology poison the environment or provide inexpensive ways to remove toxins from our drinking water? Participants will explore these questions and more by synthesizing nanoparticles and examining their interesting properties.
PURIFICATION OF FLUORESCENT PROTEINS (Dr. Shawn Ellerbroek)
The Aequorea victoria (jellyfish) gene for green fluorescent protein (GFP) was first cloned in 1992. Since then, fluorescent proteins with unique spectral properties have been engineered through directed mutation of the original Aequorea victoria GFP gene. In this session, participants will isolate green, blue, and yellow fluorescent protein from bacteria and analyze their unique fluorescent properties using a fluorimeter.
CHROMATOGRAPHIC SEPARATION OF A MIXTURE (Dr. Leilani Zart, Dr. Denis Drolet, and Dr. Matthew Zart, a senior chemist at Cambrex)
Column chromatography is a routine method typically used to isolate and purify products from organic reactions. Participants in this workshop will practice the art of chromatographic separation on a mixture of 9-fluorenone and an unknown compound and, in the process, learn about the theory behind chromatography.
Engineering Workshops
ELECTRICAL AND HYDRAULIC SYSTEMS (Dr. Daniel Black)
Electrical and hydraulic systems are two of the most common ways to provide power to machines. This workshop will study simple electrical and hydraulic circuits and compare and contrast the operation of the two.
HOW ENGINEERS “SAVE THE WORLD” (Dr. LeAnn Faidley)
Engineers put knowledge of math and science to use in the creation of products and processes that solve the world’s problems. In this workshop you will learn about a variety of engineering disciplines as you work with a team to design devices to perform specific tasks. |
