Students study quasars, DNA, solar flares and more
By:Vanessa S. Holt
BORDENTOWN TOWNSHIP They have studied light emissions from quasars and conducted research on genetically mutated microscopic worms.
They have worked with Princeton University professors to study the immune system responses of mice and have delved into topics ranging from DNA to solar flares and distant novae.
The Scientific Research class at Bordentown Regional High School recently wrapped up its second year with a round of student presentations in late January, giving 10 hard-working students an opportunity to explain their findings on such formidable topics as "blue side suppression of Lyman Alpha in quasars."
Clint Walker and Joseph Dolina, two of the students who worked on that project, said they studied spectrograms to determine light emissions from quasars and how it was affected by intervening gases.
Their results were published in the RBSE (Research-Based Science Education) journal, an annual publication that features work by students in the field of astronomy.
Seniors Tom Lynch, 18, and Janice Manion, 17, published a paper on recurring novae in the M-31 galaxy last year.
This year, Tom studied DNA transformation in Vibrio natriegens, a bacteria that could potentially be substituted for E. coli in laboratory experiments.
"It’s an idea that educators have been working with," said Tom. "It is not as pathogenic as E. coli, and it doesn’t stink."
Tom said his experiments suggested that it might work better in some instances and further research was warranted.
Janice worked with a genetically mutated form of the microscopic worm C. elegans this year.
The mutation causes the worms to gradually become paralyzed and they have been used by scientists looking for a cure for Alzheimer’s disease.
Janice had wanted to look at the potential for reversing the paralysis mutation. Due to time restraints her research was cut short but she said she learned a lot about how scientific research is conducted.
"You have to prepare ahead of time and order supplies in advance," she said. "You have to do a lot of background research."
Tom and Janice recently learned that they received a $100 grant from the Rutgers University Academy of Sciences that they had applied for last year, but because their projects are completed, the grant will go to the Scientific Research class when it reconvenes next year.
Two juniors who may take the class again next year, Rebecca Franks, 17, and Lisa Gilardi, 16, recently worked with a Princeton molecular biology professor to study the effects of different environments on the immune systems of mice.
Rebecca said with the professor’s help, they set up three environments for the mice; one contaminated by waste, one a normal environment and one germ-free.
When an evaluation was done on the number of T-cells in the intestines, spleen and lymph nodes, it turned out that there were a greater number of the cells in the systems of animals in a contaminated environment.
David Berkowitz, supervisor of the math and science department for grades K-12, said he was proud of the students’ accomplishments and their initiative in turning the experimental program into a full-fledged course.
The program is taught by chemistry teacher Robert Groover. He initiated the course last year, when students interested in the class worked on their projects during study halls.
Students who want to take the class must have completed a college preparatory biology course and either Chemistry I or Physics I and receive a recommendation from a member of the science faculty.
"I’m very excited about this," said Mr. Berkowitz. "This has blossomed from an experiment in a study hall context into authentic research."
Students who took the class are planning to continue their scientific studies in college. Rebecca would like to study forensics, while Janice and Joseph are both interested in medical research.
Tom would like to study microbiology and genetics, and Clint is interested in astrophysics.
Mr. Berkowitz said he believes that what the students have learned from this class will carry them through their college majors and will serve them well with whatever they choose to do in the future.
The students agree.
"You really get an idea of how the research process works," said Janice.