As the culminating activity of their 12-month fellowship, the 2004 Frontiers in Physiology and Explorations in Biomedicine summer Research Teachers (RTs) attended the 2005 International Union of Physiological Sciences (IUPS) meeting to learn about the latest science research findings, meet with physiologists, attend workshops and tour the posters and exhibits. Six of the twenty-five Research Teachers also presented posters about their summer research projects along with their research hosts and lab teams.
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| Some of the 2004 Frontiers in Physiology and Explorations in Biomedicine research teachers at the IUPS luncheon in their
honor. |
The 2004 Summer Research Teachers and their APS member Research Hosts were honored at a luncheon during IUPS 2005. Teachers received certificates of achievement for completing the 12-month fellowship and their Research Hosts were presented certificates of appreciation for their participation. Robert Carroll, Chair of the Education Committee, served as the master of ceremonies. President Neil Granger and Executive Director Martin Frank offered their congratulations while presenting certificates to the teachers and their hosts. Also recognized were the six dedicated Mentor/Instructors, who, as former RTs, skillfully guided the 2004 Research Teachers through their fellowship year and the 2004 Physiologists-in-Residence, Barbara E. Goodman, University of South Dakota and Karma Rabon-Stith, University of Maryland at College Park.
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| Using plastic bags, pantyhose, Styrofoam bowls and a lot of duct tape, teams were challenged with building a model of digestive system that could “digest” peanut butter crackers. |
Prior to the luncheon, the 2004 Research Teachers participated in “Models: Build It, Test It, Revise It, Test It Again,” a hands-on workshop exploring classroom labs that use model-building as a method of inquiry. David Craymer, Musekgon High School, Muskegon, MI, presented his “Studying Structure and Function Using Maple Seeds” lab. By tossing of maple seeds and folding paper, participants investigated the structure of maple samaras and the relation to seed dispersal. With her activity “How Do Paper Airplanes Fly?” Angelica Alves, West Ashley Intermediate School, Charleston, SC, helped attendees launch a study of forces and motions of objects through experimental design using paper airplanes. Diana Hill of Putnam City High School, Oklahoma City, OK, one of the Mentors for the 2004 RTs, led “Junkyard Digestion,” a hands-on exploration of the digestion system that included building a working model of the digestive tract and proved a nice lead-in to the celebratory luncheon.
The Frontiers in Physiology and Explorations in Biomedicine programs are designed to create ongoing relationships between research scientists and middle and high school teachers; and to promote the adoption of the National Science Education Standards for K-12 science content and pedagogical techniques among middle and high school teachers. The Explorations in Biomedicine project works intensively with the science faculty at schools and tribal colleges that serve Native American students to create an atmosphere that encourages science studies, and the exploration and pursuit of biomedical research careers.
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| Using plastic bags, pantyhose, Styrofoam bowls and a lot of duct tape, teams were challenged with building a model of digestive system that could “digest” peanut butter
crackers. |
The Summer Research program offers teachers nationwide a full-time, hands-on laboratory experience for 7-8 weeks at APS members’ research labs. Teachers also attend a one-week workshop at the Airlie Center in Warrenton, VA, where they explore hands-on, inquiry based teaching strategies, consider classroom equity and technology-use issues, and begin to develop their own inquiry lab activities.
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| Using plastic bags, pantyhose, Styrofoam bowls and a lot of duct tape, teams were challenged with building a model of digestive system that could “digest” peanut butter crackers. Here, Leone Rochelle (right) and Diana DeSpain (right), the activity facilitator, discuss possible modifications to the model while another team tests their model. |
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| Workshop participants dropped maple seed samaras as part of their observations on structure and
function. |
Frontiers in Physiology is sponsored by APS, the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR), Science Education Partnership Awards (SEPA), and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) at the National Institutes of Health. The Explorations in Biomedicine program is supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS Grant #GM08634), Minority Access to Research Careers (MARC) Program.
More information about these programs is available on the APS website at http://www.the-aps.org/education/edu_k12.htm.
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