PrincetonUniversity
 

Ann Sliski, outreach coordinator in molecular biology, works with John Park, a teacher at the Hudson School in Fort Lee, N.J., as his test finds evidence of genetic modifications in a brand of ramen noodles. Park was one of 24 high school teachers who took a two-week laboratory course in genetic analysis sponsored by the molecular biology department.

photo: Denise Applewhite

Teachers catch the excitement of science

by Steven Schultz
Twenty-four middle and high school science teachers spent two weeks on campus this summer learning how to manipulate and analyze DNA. In the process, they discovered new ways to bring home the excitement of science to their students.

The teachers performed DNA fingerprinting of their own cells and tested for genetically modified ingredients in foods they selected from the grocery store.

"I learned more in the last two weeks than I had in the last 10 years," said Mimi McClure, a teacher from Apopka, Fla. "This lets you take it from an ethereal idea in a book and bring it to the level of applied science that students can touch."

The teachers, who were mostly from New Jersey and Pennsylvania, learned some of the basic laboratory techniques used by advanced students in molecular biology, said senior lecturer Karen Malatesta, who leads the program along with outreach coordinator Ann Sliski.

The Outreach Program, now in its 12th year, is sponsored by the Department of Molecular Biology and funded by a grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. The University recently received a renewed four-year grant for $1.9 million, which also funds summer laboratory experience and new teaching initiatives for undergraduates. Edward Cox, professor of molecular biology, is the program director.

The teachers, who live on campus for the two weeks and receive a stipend, combine a packed schedule of lab work with lectures and seminars from Princeton scientists. "They're pretty exhausted by the end," said Malatesta.

Excitement was running high among the participants on Wednesday as they began to observe the results of their tests for genetically altered food. "Kids would love this!" said McClure. "Can you imagine them testing things that came out of the cafeteria? Wouldn't that be a riot? You could put up a bulletin board listing the different foods."

Mary Berger, a teacher at Roselle Catholic High School, came in extra early to extract more DNA from the tomatoes she brought in, because she was worried that the procedure had not worked the day before. "I really wanted to know the answer, so that's why I came in early and did it," she said "It was a wonderful experience. They encouraged me to do it, to follow up."

Her tomatoes were not genetically altered, but others found human-inserted genes in cookies, popcorn, English muffins and ramen noodles.

"It gives me a real appreciation for what molecular biologists do," said Carole Harris a teacher at Council Rock High School in Newtown, Pa. "And it gives me a real confidence in going back to my classroom and doing this." To aid in translating the experience to the classroom, the program allows graduates to borrow kits that contain the supplies they need to perform the experiments with their students.

The workshop made a big difference for Pat Sidelsky of Lenape Regional Schools in Burlington County, N.J., who participated in 2000 and returned this year as a computing instructor and to share her experiences with participants. "You can involve not just the classroom but the whole community," she said. "We brought the parents right into the classroom, and the kids taught their parents. It's great for the students and it helps increase the support for science education -- and it all came from Princeton. Without this program, we wouldn't be able to do so many of these experiments."

© 2002 The Trustees of Princeton University