|
Education |
||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||
|
APS Supports 24 Undergraduate Researchers
APS Members Host Summer Research Experience for Science Teachers |
||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||
|
The American Physiological Society’s Undergraduate Summer
Research Fellowships (UGSRF) program is sponsored by the APS Career
Opportunities in Physiology Committee and funded by the APS Council. In
2007, APS doubled the number of fellowships. In 2009, we will again be
funding 24 undergraduates for the summer. The program was established in
2000, making this the ninth year of the program. These fellowships are to support full-time undergraduate students to work in the laboratory of an established investigator. The intent of this program is to excite and encourage students to pursue a career as a basic or clinical research scientist. Faculty sponsors/advisors must be active members of the APS in good standing but do not have to be US residents. Past awardees include students from Canada and South America. These Fellowships provide a $4,000 summer stipend to the student (10 weeks of support), a $300 grant to the faculty sponsor/advisor, and up to $1,300 to the student so that he/she may attend and present their data at the APS annual meeting, Experimental Biology 2010.
|
||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||
|
APS Members Host Summer Research Experience for Science Teachers |
||||||||||
|
This spring 18 teachers from across the nation were selected
to participate in the year-long 2009 Frontiers in Physiology Professional
Development Fellowship Program. One component of the fellowship is a local
partnership between the science teacher and an APS member, who jointly
applied to the program and committed to contributing a portion of the
teacher’s fellowship payments. APS members serve as hosts and mentors to the
teachers by providing each teacher fellow with a physiology-based laboratory
research experience for seven to eight weeks this summer. Through this
opportunity, the Research Teachers (RTs) learn first-hand how the research
process works allowing them to enhance their own science teaching with their
students in the classroom. In July, the RTs also attended the “APS Science Teaching Forum,” an intensive workshop week focused on student-centered teaching methods at the Airlie Center in Warrenton, VA. APS Councillor Barbara Goodman (Univ. of South Dakota) and member Shea Gilliam (Wake Forest Univ.) served as a Physiologists-in-Residence. A leadership team of past RTs served as Mentor/Instructors, including Margaret Shain (Indiana), Rebecca Evans (Ohio), Randy Dix (Kansas), and Robert Manriquez (Louisiana). Together they facilitated sessions using APS curriculum units and exploring inquiry- and equity-based teaching strategies, how to integrate technology into their classroom, and equity issues in science education. As part of the fellowship in the fall, the RTs will develop and refine their own inquiry-based, student-centered lab activity for the science classroom. Finally, the RTs conclude their fellowship year by experiencing a scientific meeting at Experimental Biology 2010 in Anaheim, CA. Frontiers in Physiology (http://www.frontiersinphys.org) is sponsored by the APS, a Science Education Partnership Award from the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR), and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The following are the Teacher/Research Host teams for 2009, listed alphabetically by the teacher’s last name: Suzanne Banas, South Miami Middle Comm. School, Miami, FL Nikolaos Tsoukias, Florida International Univ., Miami Charlene Byrd, John Q. Adams Middle School, Metairie, LA L. Gabriel Navar, Tulane Univ., New Orleans, LA Diana Cost, Weymouth High School, Weymouth, MA Raouf A. Khalil, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA Paula Donham, Olathe East High School, Olathe, KS Norberto C. Gonzalez, Univ. of Kansas Med. Ctr., Kansas City Denice Gamper, Bard High School Early College, New York Samuel C. Silverstein, Columbia Univ., New York Caroline Guthrie, Githens Middle School, Durham, NC Jo Rae Wright, and Kristi Williams, Duke Univ., Durham, NC Thomas Haren, Canton City Schools Digital Acad., Canton, OH Jacqueline Novak, Walsh Univ., North Canton, OH Debra Hasan, Cousins Middle School, Covington, GA Otto Froehlich, Emory Univ., Atlanta, GA Anne Joy, Clara Driscoll Middle School, San Antonio, TX Merry L. Lindsey, Univ. of Texas, San Antonio Todd McDonald, St. Charles West High School, St. Charles, MO Jonathan S. Fisher, St. Louis Univ., St. Louis, MO Jennifer Mills, John Q. Adams Middle School, Metairie, LA Patricia Molina, and Lauri Byerly, Louisiana State Univ., New Orleans Tricia Radojcic, Bella Vista Middle School, Murietta, CA Theodore Garland, Univ. of California, Riverside Rona Robinson-Hill, McKinley Classical Leadership Acad., St. Louis, MO Jonathan S. Fisher, St. Louis Univ., St. Louis, MO Andrea Tracy, Canyon Hills Middle School, El Paso, TX Kristin L. Gosselink, Univ. of Texas, El Paso Maria Vibandor, L.W. Higgins High School, Marrero, LA Patricia Molina, and Lauri Byerly, Louisiana State Univ. Health Sciences Center, New Orleans Deborah Wallace, Pilgrim Park Middle School, Elm Grove, WI John D. Imig, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee Audra Brown Ward, Marist School, Atlanta, GA My N. Helms, Emory Univ., Atlanta, GA Carol Wheeler, Red River High School, Grand Forks, ND Cindy M. Anderson, and Joseph Benoit, Univ. of North Dakota, Grand Forks |
||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||
|
APS Presents Awards for the Best Physiology Project at |
||||||||||
|
APS members continue to judge and present Science Fair Awards
on behalf of the APS at local and regional science fairs for precollege
students across the nation. In 2009, 34 requests for a science fair award
packet have been received to date, already doubling the number from last
year. The student selected to have the best physiology-related project
receives an APS t-shirt, an APS researcher pin, and a certificate. The
student’s teacher receives the APS Women Life Scientists book and a K-12
resource packet. Any APS member who participates as a judge in a local or regional science fair at an elementary, middle, or high school is eligible to apply and receive an APS award packet. For more information, visit: http://www.the-aps.org/education/sciencefair/index.htm or contact Scarletta Whitsett (swhitsett@the-aps.org) in the APS Education Office. Mustafa Iqbal, a senior at John Jay Science and Engineering Academy in San Antonio, TX, received an APS award for the best physiology project at the Exxon Mobil Texas Science and Engineering Fair 2009. APS members Ron Seaman of General Dynamics Ais and Kathy Ryan of US Army Institute were judges on behalf of the APS and presented Iqbal with his award. The title of Mustafa project is “The Protective Effect of Caffeine Stimulated Ryanodine Stores on Astrocytes.” His teacher and sponsor is Jay Sumpter. Aaron Clark, a fourth grader at Briarcrest Elementary School in St. Ann, MO, received an APS award for the best physiology project at The Greater St. Louis Science Fair. APS member Jessica Clark of Washington University, School of Medicine was a judge on behalf of the APS and presented Clark with his award. The title of Aaron’s project is “Wii Sports vs Gym Class.” His teacher and sponsor is Ms. Curtis. Negin Nematollahi, a senior at Tucson High Magnet School in Tucson, AZ, received an APS award for the best physiology project at the Arizona Science and Engineering Fair. APS member Layla Al-Nakkash of Midwestern University was a judge on behalf of the APS and presented Nematollahi with her award. The title of Negin’s project is “Factors Affecting Bone Strength During Development in Peripubertal Girls.” Her teacher and sponsor is Margaret Wilch. Luke Yokum, a seventh grader at Pendleton County Middle School in Franklin, WV, received an APS award for the best physiology project at the Eastern Regional Science Fair. APS member Shawn Stover of Davis and Elkins College was a judge on behalf of the APS and presented Luke with the award. The title of Luke’s project is “Does Exercise Lower My Blood Sugar?” The teacher and sponsor is Heather Adams. William O. Carson, an eighth grader at Irmo Middle School in Irmo, SC, received an APS award for the best physiology project at the 53rd Annual University of South Carolina Central South Carolina Region II Science and Engineering Fair. APS member Gregory Brower of the University of South Carolina, School of Medicine was a judge on behalf of the APS and presented Carson with his award. The title of William’s project is “Does School Affect Students’ Ability to Get Enough Daily Physical Activity?.” His teacher and sponsor is Cheryl Harrison. Jacob Lenz, an eighth grader at Papillion Junior High School in Papillion, NE, received an APS award for the best physiology project at the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s 17th Annual Science Meet. APS Past President Irving Zucker, and member David Holtzclaw and Sumit Kar of the University of Nebraska were judges on behalf of the APS and presented Lenz with his award. The title of Jacob’s project is “Which Liquid will Grow the Longest Radicle?” His teacher and sponsor is Cindy Skarda. Yiran “Mack” Su, a senior at Clayton High School in St. Louis, MO, received an APS award for the best physiology project at the Greater St. Louis Science Fair-Honors Division. APS member Chaya Gopalan of St. Louis College of Pharmacy was a judge on behalf of the APS and presented Su with his award. The title of Yiran’s project is, “The Significance of Phosphorylated Retinoblastoma Protein Levels in Multiple Myeloma Plasma Cells.” The teacher and sponsor is Sarah Falkoff.
|
||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||
|
APS Presents Awards to Outstanding High School Students at the 60th Annual International Science and Engineering Fair |
||||||||||
|
The 60th Annual Intel International Science and Engineering
Fair (ISEF), presented by Agilent Technologies, was held in Reno, NV May
11-16, 2009. Nearly 1,600 students from 51 countries, regions, and
territories competed in the world’s largest pre-college science competition
awards. During the two days of awards ceremonies, over $4 million in
scholarships, cash prizes, and awards were distributed in categories ranging
from behavioral science to engineering and medicine. More than 500 Intel
International Science and Engineering Fair participants received
scholarships and prizes for their work. Prizes included scholarships, cash
awards, scientific field trips to foreign countries and the grand prizes:
three $50,000 scholarships from Intel. Grand awards included 19 “Best of
Category” winners who each received a $5,000 Intel scholarship and a new
laptop. Special Awards are presented by over 70 scientific, professional and
educational organizations and include scholarships, summer internships, book
and equipment grants and scientific field trips. For the 14th year, the APS presented four Special Awards in the form of cash prizes, certificates and student subscriptions for the best projects in the physiological sciences. This year’s APS judging team included Robert Hester from the Univ. of Mississippi Medical Center and Mark Knuepfer from St. Louis Univ. The convention center was packed with posters displaying projects ranging from physiological based research done at home or at large medical schools, to complex robotics complete with computer driven controls. Students spent two days being interviewed by judges representing a variety of disciplines, and participated in a panel discussion featuring several Nobel Laureates. As judges, we previewed almost 80 projects to select 16 that best fit the category of “physiology.” We interviewed each of these finalists to evaluate their involvement in the project and to determine their understanding of the science and experimental design behind the project. After two days of judging, we chose the following projects to receive APS awards for excellence in physiological research. Receiving $1,500 and first place was Zinan Zhang, 16, a junior at Chamblee Charter High School in Chamblee, GA for his project entitled “ Adenosine 2b Receptro: A Novel Therapeutic Target for Irritable Bowel Syndrome.” Zhang was also awarded a best of category award for Medicine and Health Sciences-presented by National Institutes of Health receiving a fourth place award and $500. Zinan displayed enthusiasm and desire of a young bench scientist. Jasmine Roberts, 15, of Paul Wharton High School, Tampa, FL received second place and $1,000. Her project was entitled “Does Chronic Hyperglycemia Have an Effect on Alzheimer’s Amyloid-Beta Pathology in the Brain?” Melissa Mc Dowell, 16, of Saint Joseph’s Academy, Baton Rouge, LA was awarded one of the two third place awards of $500 for her project entitled “Differentiation of Bovine Adipose Derived Adult Stem Cells.” McDowell was also awarded a best of category award for Animal Sciences presented by Intel receiving a fourth place award and $500. Third place was also awarded to Stephanie Mian Wang, 17, of Roslyn High School in Roslyn Heights, NY. Stephanie’s work was titled, “The Novel Property of the Circulating Hormone AM and Its Binding Protein: Neuroprotection in Hypoxia.” Wang was also awarded a best of category winner for Medicine and Health Sciences-presented by National Institutes of Health receiving a third place award and $1,000. The winners also received a certificate, a t-shirt, and a one-year subscription to APS publications. These projects are a small example of the many outstanding projects we had the opportunity to judge. The finalists at the fair were outstanding high school students and were extremely knowledgeable and enthusiastic about their projects. The Intel ISEF is a wonderful event and I was honored to represent APS at this celebration of the scientists of tomorrow.
|
||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
