| |
Directed Study Block 3July 7 - 9 | |
|
| |
Dr. Pam Twigg |
Dr. Pam Twigg Research Assistant Professor, University of Alabama - Huntsville "Structural Biology in the 21st Century: or Attack of the Clones" We have been overloaded in the past few years with enormous amounts of information in the form of deciphered genomes, bacterial, plant, humanÉ The sequence of a gene tells us the order of the amino acids in the protein it codes for, but what good does that information do us? Structural biologists take advantage of the physical properties of proteins in various states to uncover the three-dimensional fold, which in turn tells us something about the function of the protein. This directed study will cover some of the basics of these techniques and how these techniques differ in the kind of information they give us. The hands-on part of this directed study will involve learning to purify and crystallize proteins for use in x-ray crystallography. |
Dr. David Withoff |
Dr. David Withoff Wolfram Research "Computer Programming and Programming Style" This directed study will begin with a simple introduction to computer programming and proceed through a variety of examples to illustrate the many different ways of organizing a computer program. The programming will be done using Mathematica, a common system used for technical computing, but the principles discussed would apply to any computer programming language. No experience with computer programming is required. |
Dr. Greg Boivin |
Dr. Greg Boivin Director of the Division of Comparative Pathology, University of Cincinnati "Pathology of Genetically Engineered Mutant Mice" A rapid progression of discovery of new gene function has occurred over the last 10 years due to the advancement of gene manipulation in the mouse. Both the inactivation of genes and over-expression of gene function have lead to discoveries of important new functions. A critical area of importance in the analysis of genetically engineered mutant mice is the accurate phenotyping. Pathologic analysis of the organs from the mice is one method to phenotype the alterations. Students will get the opportunity to examine histologic sections of mice that have undergone genetic manipulation, and discuss the ramifications of the deleted genes. This will offer a diverse view of some of the interesting avenues of gene research and therapy. |
Ms. Taylor Clark |
Ms. Taylor Clark Private Lawyer "Bioethics and Trade Secrets" In this directed study, Ms. Clark will discuss the finer points of ethical decision-making, copyright law for inventors, and emerging topics in the field of bio-ethics. |
Dr. Noel Hinners |
Dr. Noel Hinners Retired, Lockheed Martin Astronautics "Humans to Mars - You're in Charge" NASA has long desired to send human explorers to Mars. Until recently, this was strictly a pipe-dream. Now, partly as a result of the Columbia accident, President Bush refocused American human space flight on eventually going to Mars. The International Space Station will provide data to support that goal, the Shuttle will be replaced with a new transportation system and the Moon will serve as a way-station or test-bed for eventually getting to Mars. In this study, campers - likely part of the first generation of martians - will develop a plan for the human exploration of Mars. They will establish a rationale for why send humans, considering science and the value of humans as explorers. Campers will design a mission, understand cost, orbits, life support, risks and their mitigation, and identify where on Mars to land the first humans. They will propose the crew composition: should we send scientists, doctors, engineers, technicians, poets, or teachers? Should the crew be international, men or women or both? They will develop pros and cons of terra-forming Mars and of setting up a permanent colony. |
Mr. Justin Fitzpatrick |
Mr. Justin Fitzpatrick Ph.D. Candidate, Massachusetts Institute of Technology "Linguistics: Non-obvious Properties of the Human Language" Delegates in this directed study will be introduced to the structure of human language and its mental/neural basis. We will be looking at what types of computational/formal properties languages have (and don't have) from the perspective of cross-linguistic surveys as well as individual psychology, the development of signed languages, and neuro-linguistic studies. Participants should leave with an understanding of some basic (and non-obvious) properties of human language. They will also have a grasp of where language capacities sit in the brain and how they differ from other human cognitive capacities, as well as how these capacities differ from and are similar to cognitive capacities in other animals. Time permitting, we might also discuss how current linguistic research informs social language issues related to, e.g., bilingualism and ebonics. |
|
Andy Blackwood and Geoff Wilkes NYSC® Staff - Director and Digital Video Coordinator "Digital Video Production" Participants will explore the elements of digital video production. Using a digital video camera, they will record video clips and upload them to a multimedia personal computer. Software will allow them to incorporate video clips, digital still pictures, sound files, and text to create a short video production. The final product will be recorded to CD-R or DVD+R. |
Amyie Vuong |
Amyie Vuong NYSC® Staff - Applied Arts Coordinator "Impressionist Painting: Background and Techniques" In this directed study, students will explore the history and techniques of impressionism. They will produce their own impressionistic work of natural scenery around camp. |
Heather Anderson |
Heather Anderson NYSC® Staff - Unit Leader / Natural Science Assistant "Wild, Wild West Virginia" Through this directed study, delegates will gain knowledge and appreciation for their surroundings in the Monongahela National Forest. It will include a survey of the health of the nearby Greenbrier River, as well as an investigation of the local flora and fauna. Delegates will also have the unique experience of exploring the Cranberry Glades, a complex of ponded, herbaceous, shrubby, and forested wetlands, unusual in that they are home to plants and animals typically found much further north. With their new understanding, delegates will come to appreciate wild, wild West Virginia in a whole new way. |
|
The Outdoors Staff "The Great Outdoors: Climbing, Caving and Biking" The NYSC® Outdoors Staff offer caving, climbing, and biking day trips in each directed study block. | |
[ Main Menu | About NYSC® | Academic | Outdoor | Photos | Delegates | Staff | Presenters ]
indicates an alumnus of the National Youth Science Camp
indicates an trustee of the National Youth Science Foundation