No travel needed this year for High Point summer biology program

By GREG WATRY

gwatry@njherald.com

WANTAGE Cutting hours off a commute time, High Point Regional High School students interested in molecular biology will have the opportunity to further their knowledge this summer in their own backyard with the High Point-Waksman Student Scholars Program, a two-week long session made possible by a collaboration between High Point and Rutgers University.

According to Sue Coletta, a science education specialist at Rutgers University, the Waksman Student Scholars Program is a yearlong endeavour that provides high school students and their teachers with the opportunity to take part in a challenging research investigation.

The program, launched in 1993, was started by Rutgers University (New Brunswick Campus) faculty from the Graduate School of Education and the Department of Genetics.

Currently High Point is among the 32 New Jersey high schools that are involved in the 2013-2014 program.

Basic concepts and relevant themes in molecular biology are explored in conjunction with a strong laboratory component, Coletta said in an email to the New Jersey Herald.

The students become immersed in the culture of research while learning about topics in molecular biology and bioinformatics that go beyond the high school curriculum. They conduct laboratory investigations that are typically done in upper level undergraduate and graduate level courses, she said.

Three components make up the program: a summer institute, academic year activities that take place in participating high schools and an end of the year forum poster session where students present their findings.

Madelaine Travaille, a science teacher at High Point, has attended the Waksman summer institute since 2005, with High Point being involved for nine years. The program runs for three weeks.

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No travel needed this year for High Point summer biology program