EQuad News Fall 1999

School of Engineering and Applied Science

Summer Program for High School Students gives opportunity to conduct research, work with faculty

In the eyes of an untrained observer, the red gelatin capsules may appear small and unremarkable. But in the eyes of Rishi Madhok and the other young scientists participating in this summer research program, the capsules represented a milestone in their research, the culmination of a month-long process.

As he held the capsules in his palm, Rishi explained the nature of his research and its medical significance. He and his fellow researchers pointed out that each capsule is, in fact, a biodegradable medical device, which dissolves inside the human body and releases medicine.

How to incorporate the medicine in the capsules was the first lab project—a project that occupied all students participating in the program.

That lab assignment was one of the many challenges high school students faced when they enrolled in a new scientific research program organized through the Princeton Materials Institute (PMI). The PMI’s outreach, in cooperation with the N.J. EnvironMentors Program, recruited 18 Princeton and Trenton high school students for a month-long program.

EnvironMentors is a national organization that matches volunteer scientists and other experts with high school students. Some of the students who participated in the N.J. EnvironMentors program were chosen to become a part of PMI’s new summer program.

The students brought with them an abundance of enthusiasm and an appetite for learning, said David Reibstein, PMI’s outreach director.

The students were divided into four teams comprised of four to five students. Each team was assigned to a PMI faculty member, and student teams were required to perform research relating to the faculty member’s area of expertise. The teams were: aerosols, bacterial drug resistance, the ribosome, and surfactants.

Danielle Rose-Grisham, a teacher at Lawrence Intermediate School, works on an electric circuit as a participant in the Science Curriculum Support Project, which pairs teachers with faculty members in science and engineering. Electrical Engineering Professors Antoine Kahn and Mansour Shayegan were advisers.

The aerosol team studied the impact supersonic aircraft and their aerosol emissions have on the atmosphere.

"We (used) volcanic eruptions as a model for the harmful effects supersonic jets can have on the atmosphere," said Phil Addison, a Trenton High School senior. "We (tried) to come up with suggestions for fuel and engine modifications in the aircraft."

Christina Go ’00 served as a mentor for the aerosol team. The Princeton University chemistry major works closely with Lynn Russell, an assistant professor of chemical engineering.

The drug resistance team learned how bacteria develop a resistance to antibiotics and did experiments with anti-bacterial soaps to determine how effective they really are.

"It was hard work," said Guerline Guerrier, a Trenton Central High School senior. "But now I have real understanding for how bacteria develop resistance. We know that not every antibiotic used will be effective."

The ribosome team investigated the causes of a genetic disease responsible for mental retardation in children. They worked with PMI scientist Jannette Carey, Princeton professor of chemistry and molecular biology, who is exploring the role of ribosomes in the Fragile X disease—the second leading cause of mental retardation in children.

The surfactant team, under the supervision of T. Kyle Vanderlick, professor of chemical engineering, studied the role surfactants play in alleviating common lung disorders.

"These surfactants reduce surface tension in lungs, making it easier to breathe," said Sean Welski, a Princeton High School senior. "When premature babies are born, they do not have an adequate number of surfactants, but there are now three major types of drugs that can be used. And more premature babies are being saved."

In addition to investigating their topic, each student team was also required to complete two lab projects, one of which involved the research on capsules. Dennis Gemmell, president of Ecological & Environmental Learning Services, was consultant for the PMI program. He helped design the lab projects and worked as facilitator for the students.

"The idea was to make the labs relevant to real-world experiences," he said. "This way the students are not dealing with something abstract."

Prior to beginning their lab experiments, the students honed their skills with an experiment outlined in scientific manuals.

"We wanted them to develop an understanding of scientific inquiry," Mr. Gemmell said. "We emphasized quality over speed. The idea was for them to use the scientific knowledge they acquired to then engineer a product. It was important for them to develop their own ideas without becoming a slave to the manual."

After the lab assignments were completed, the students had the opportunity to exercise their public speaking skills. Each team gave an oral presentation to fellow students, explaining the rationale behind their lab research. When the votes were counted, the ribosome team members were voted as having given the best oral presentation on the biodegradable lab project.

"We just came prepared," said Sergei Lupashin, a Princeton High School junior. "We did a good job of using visuals with our presentation."

A second lab project involved the creation of a biosensor device that could be used to detect glucose. The project revolved around a hypothetical chemical supply company that had suffered from a flood. All of the company’s container labels were lost in the flood, and it could not determine which containers held the glucose.

However, scientists equipped with a biosensor device could identify the glucose containers. A strip laced with a certain type of chemical changes colors whenever it comes into contact with glucose.

"The students (were) given a series of restraints they must observe when they are making the biosensor," Mr. Gemmell said. "But there were no formal steps. We left that wide open to them. They (were) encouraged to think for themselves. They should be very proud of what they were able to accomplish."

The conclusion to the summer program was a symposium to highlight the students’ achievements.

"The program has two main goals," Dr. Reibstein said. "We hope to promote the concept of scientific literacy among the general population. Even if these students do not choose science as a profession, they will have an appreciation for what scientists do."

"We also want to bring more minorities and women into the scientific field. They continue to be underrepresented. But our outreach program may be able to make a difference. I enjoyed working with all of these students. They were terrific."

http://www.princeton.edu/~pmi/outreach

WHO'S PARTICIPATING?

SEAS faculty members who are participating in the PMI outreach programs include:

Ilhan Aksay, professor of chemical engineering

Ravindra Bhatt, professor of electrical engineering

Antoine Kahn, professor of electrical engineering

Richard Register, associate professor of chemical engineering

William Russell, professor of chemical engineering

Lynn Russell, assistant professor of chemical engineering

Mansour Shayegan, professor of electrical engineering

T. Kyle Vanderlick, professor of chemical engineering

Aerosol Squad

Team members are, from left, Stephanie Chung, Class of 2001 at Princeton High School; Jasmine Smith, Class of 2000 at Trenton Central High School; Andreja Novakovic, Class of 2000 at Princeton High School; Isaac Bethea, Class of 2000 at Trenton Central High School; Lynn Russell, assistant professor of chemical engineering and faculty consultant to the team; Christina Go ’00, the team’s mentor; and Phil Addison, Class of 2000 at Trenton Central High School.  Photo by Maureen Quinn