¾¨Ó㴫ý

¾¨Ó㴫ý hosted "The Science Scene," a workshop of hands-on chemistry and biology laboratory projects for middle school students, April 5 from 2-5 p.m. in the Hoyt Science Resources Center.

The workshop was sponsored by ¾¨Ó㴫ý's Drinko Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, Chemistry Club, and Beta Beta Beta Biological Society. Additional support came from ¾¨Ó㴫ý's Departments of Biology and Chemistry.

Sixth- through ninth-grade students from New Castle, Mercer, Hermitage, Sharon, Wilmington, Butler, Sharpsville, Slippery Rock, and Portersville schools participated.

The workshop was coordinated by ¾¨Ó㴫ý students Nikki Batey, a sophomore biochemistry major, and Kim Worst, a junior chemistry major. Additional ¾¨Ó㴫ý student assistance was provided by members of the two science clubs.

Worst said, "We conducted some taste-and-smell activities for students in the sixth and seventh grades to test their senses. For the eighth- and ninth-graders, we made DNA necklaces, where students used their own cheek cells and extracted their own DNA. Chemistry projects included making 'snow' and revealing a 'secret writing' method using chemical reactions."

Dr. Helen Boylan, ¾¨Ó㴫ý associate professor of chemistry, and Dr. Joshua Corrette-Bennett, ¾¨Ó㴫ý assistant professor of biology, provided faculty support, along with ¾¨Ó㴫ý Chemical Hygiene Officer Lori Micsky.

Contact Batey at (412) 302-7202 (e-mail bateynl@westminster.edu) or Worst at (724) 991-0429 (e-mail worstkm@westminster.edu) for additional information.