More Learning by Doing: High School Students Work with USU Researchers
Thirty-three high-school students from around the state — and as far away as Wisconsin — are spending a week on the campus of Utah State University working alongside researchers. They are participating in USU’s 10th annual Summer Academy, which ends Friday, July, 16.
Students explore interests in biotechnology, including science, medicine and engineering together with Utah State University faculty, staff and students.
Their day is divided between lectures, talks and lab work. Evenings are reserved for fun activities that build camaraderie between the students.
Lab investigations range from protein purification and cloning techniques to examining bacteria found in the Great Salt Lake in an effort to develop their interests.
Since its inceptions 10 years ago, the program has brought more than 350 students to campus. Support comes from the Center for Integrated BioSystems and the College of Agriculture at USU.
“Our hands-on approach provides exposure to university research and encourages exploration of science and engineering fields,” said Afifa Sabir, educational coordinator and program director at the CIB. “We have been especially good at attracting women and ethnically underrepresented groups to our program.”
Sabir said an advanced program was established several years ago for students returning for a second year. These students do both field work and analysis. One project visits the Great Salt Lake to collect samples. Back at the lab, organisms are sequenced, cloned and have DNA extracted, with the hope of finding some “new,” undiscovered bacteria. Findings are presented to parents and peers July 16, the final day of the program.
Many students are sent by their teachers who participate in a teacher symposium, held each fall by the CIB, in collaboration with the Utah State Office of Education.
For information on this or other programs, visit the website.
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Contact: Afifa Sabir, 435-797-3504, Afifa.sabir@usu.edu
Writer: Jeannine Huenemann, 435-797-8274, jeannine.huenemann@usu.edu
Danielle Criddle, graduate student, working with Matthew Miller of Salt Lake City examining samples from the Great Salt Lake. (photo courtesy Eli Lucero/Herald Journal)
Christine Blubaugh, of Logan High School, works on an experiment with E. coli during the Biotechnology Summer Academy on the USU campus. (photo courtesy Eli Lucero/Herald Journal)
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