High school students on Northshore receive introduction to Genetics, STEM opportunities from Southeastern
Tuesday, April 25, 2017
by: Rene Abadie
SCIENCE AT THE NEXT LEVEL – Southeastern Louisiana University biology instructor Tara Turley-Stoulig observes Lakeshore High School juniors George Stokes, left, and Andrew Jones as they perform a lab experiment testing for genetic modification in snack foods at the NTCC STEM campus laboratory.
HAMMOND – Students at several high schools on the Northshore are receiving intensive
instruction in genetics and introductions to possible scientific careers thanks to
Southeastern Louisiana University’s Department of Biological Sciences.
Titled “Branching Out with STEM,” the new program involves Southeastern biology
students and students from Northshore Technical Community College (NTCC) who serve
as teaching assistants under the direction of Tara Turley-Stoulig, Southeastern instructor
of biological sciences. Partnering with her on the program is NTCC Vice Chancellor
of Strategic Initiatives Tina Tinney.
The program is funded by a two–year enhancement grant of $52,288 from the Louisiana
Board of Regents.
“We are trying to stimulate greater interest in the STEM disciplines (science,
technology, engineering, mathematics) by exposing students to genetics concepts and
activities they would not ordinarily encounter in their high school courses,” said
Turley-Stoulig.
The four-day programs include two lecture modules in the high school classrooms
on human genetics, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), genetic engineering and
biotechnology, along with two days of hands-on activities in a lab at the NTCC STEM
campus in Lacombe or on the Southeastern campus where students are able to practice
modern laboratory techniques.
The project introduces high school students to STEM-related programs offered
at the college and university levels.
To help teach the approximately 130 participating high school students, Turley-Stoulig
recruited 20 Southeastern students from the university’s biology programs to serve
as teaching assistants. The Southeastern students then instructed a similar number
of NTCC students from various majors to help with the project.
NTCC student Alexander Call of Mandeville participated in the program by assisting
Turley-Stoulig in a laboratory presentation for Lakeshore High School students held
at the community college’s new STEM campus in Lacombe.
The experience has Call thinking that teaching may be a career choice that he
would consider.
“I see that the kids really like the program. The hands-on work they’re doing
in the lab gets them involved in studying genetics,” Call said.
“That is the intent of the program, to take a unique approach to provide a range
of students exposure to technologies in a rapidly advancing field of science,” Turley-Stoulig
said.
“Dr. Turley-Stoulig is a great teacher,” said Lakeshore student Andrew Jones.
“She teaches at our level and makes the subject understandable.” Lakeshore junior
George Stokes added, “This is awesome; I learned a lot in this class.”
In addition to Lakeshore, Northshore high schools participating in the program
include Hammond High Magnet School, St. Thomas Aquinas Regional Catholic High School
and Northlake Christian School.