the bulletin S P R I N G
2020
SBS Women in
SCIENCE
By Mark Luebbers
On an early winter afternoon, SBS Science Department Chair Meghan Lena is working closely with a small group of seniors in the downstairs lab in Jesser Science Center. The group is intensely focused on a small device called a gel electrophoresis chamber which is just starting to show the results of their current experiment: measuring the amount of genetically modified material in... a tortilla chip! As they watch, the device starts to show its colors by projecting the sequence of the DNA in the sample as a spectrum through a tiny display. The verdict: after comparing the tortilla chip DNA to two control samples, one of which contained a GMO ingredient, and one which did not, they determine that at least one of the ingredients in a tortilla chip of this kind is certainly genetically modified. The experiment is typical of the kind of discovery that happens in SBS science classrooms today. Learning is geared not just to give students a practical understanding of the tools and techniques required to make them comfortable and adept in a laboratory or technology space, but to spur their interest, give them a passion or even a cause that will lead them to pursue a course of study in the sciences or technology in college, and perhaps a career in these fields. This gives Meghan and the other science teachers at SBS a clear challenge: “We try to expose them to as many disciplines and
skills as possible; ones that are as transferable as possible to the college classroom and lab.” Unlocking the DNA of a tortilla chip to see what’s really in the food we eat is the kind of real-world science that Meghan thinks intrigues SBS students, makes them confident in a science or technology setting, and may motivate them to make a career in science or technology their life’s work. Meghan says, “When kids have a clear vision of where they want to go, it’s a big motivator, and therefore program offerings at SBS need to be flexible so they can pursue their interests and curiosity. This requires lots of potential resources for them.” Katie Kowalyshyn ’20 has loved science since she can remember, but her passion really took hold when she came to SBS. She remembers baking bread in Beth Stinchfield’s class as a 9th grader and realizing how much fun discovery can be. Katie loves science because, she says, “There’s so 5
