The Home of Midwood Science Research

The World Science Festival will be held from Wednesday, May 29th to Sunday, June 2nd at various times and locations across New York City. The festival organizers are looking for high school students who have a passion for science and are willing to contribute time, talent, and enthusiasm.

A list of qualifications and assignments is available at this web page. Register at this web page. Tell them when you are available and how you think you can help. A brief interview and/or training session will be required of all potential volunteers. Extra credit will be awarded, of course, and transit will be covered.

Hello Research Seniors and Juniors,

We will be holding the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) Physics Bowl Period 9, Tuesday, April 16, 2013 in Room A320.

Participants in this competition take a 45 minute, 40 question multiple choice test written by the AAPT. This event is open to all students who are currently enrolled in an AP Physics class. Students in AP Physics B compete in the first year division, while students in AP Physics C compete in the second year division. (There is a slight difference in questions between the two divisions.) Awards are given to the top students and the top schools in a geographic region. All research students who participate will receive one half point of extra credit.

If you are interested in this event, see Mr. Spergel in room A300 (or email hss28@cornell.edu). He will give you information on how to register and how to take the practice exam online.

Seniors,

I sent you a rather long email today. A copy is available on this website should you need to refer to it.

senior-message.txt

 

The American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) invites you to participate in the 8th Annual DNA Day Essay Contest. This year there is one question, which deals with discoveries in genetics that have occurred in the 60 years since Watson and Crick published their model of the DNA double helix.

2013 marks the 60th anniversary of the discovery of the double helix of DNA by James Watson and Francis Crick and the 10th anniversary of the first sequencing of the human genome. Choose either of these breakthroughs and explain its broader impact on biotechnology, human health and disease, or our understanding of basic genetics, such as genetic variation or gene expression.

Justify your answer in detail and be sure to include one or more specific examples of broader impact. Use reliable references and citations to support your argument, for example, research published by experts in scientific journal articles and books.

Interested students should contact Ms. Ross. (Obviously, current and former AP Biology students are strongly encouraged to apply.) Deadline for submission is Friday, March 15, 2013 at 5:00 PM EST. Extra credit will be awarded to any Science Research student (senior, junior, or sophomore) who writes an acceptable essay as judged by Ms. Ross and submits it through the ASHG website before the deadline.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is offering research opportunities over the summer to students interested in a career in biomedical or behavioral research. Participating researchers are located across the US. There is one scientist who is willing to work with high school students in New York City (Perry N. Halkitis at NYU). There are 11 locations outside NYC that are willing to work with high school students that will also provide temporary housing. Applicants must be at least 15 year old.

This is an excellent opportunity for sophomores looking to enter science research, juniors who are still looking for internships, and seniors who might like to try working in a new lab while they wait to go to college.

Applicants must submit a transcript, a statement of research career interest (an essay), two letters of recommendation, and complete the application form. Applications must be received by Friday, February 15, 2013. I realize the turnaround time on this is rather short, but this is the way NIDA does it. Everyone applying across the US will be working equally furiously to make the deadline.

The Research Room is reserved periods 7–10 on Tuesday, January 8 for an end-of-the-semester celebration. You made it through the paperwork nightmares that are Intel and NYCSEF. I think it’s time we used A214 for a gathering.

The best thing would be if everyone would contribute something to the cause (main dish, side dish, beverage, etc.). We may have cups, silverware, and napkins left over from last year’s science fair, but I don’t know for sure.

I have arranged for the delivery of a 160 liter tank of liquid nitrogen for educational purposes. One of the more interesting things you can do with it is make ice cream in 30 seconds. I have some of the ingredients (vanilla powder, cocoa powder, peppermint extract, sugar) as well as the necessary utensils. I need a volunteer or two or three to bring cream (light cream works better than heavy cream).

Please visit the spreadsheet and tell me what you’d like to contribute. (Check your email for the link.)

Papers were delivered to NYCSEF headquarters at 17 Court Street at 2:15 PM.

Seniors,

Thank you for completing the voluminous amount of paperwork for NYCSEF today. This is a competition that has been very kind to Midwood over the years, so your chances of bringing home an award when everything is done are quite high.

I will deliver everything tomorrow. Watch your email next week for a confirmation message from NYCSEF. Have a nice Winter Break, then watch your email again for a status update in mid January. They will tell you if anything is wrong with your application and tell you how to fix it.

Normally, you need to submit a copy of your NYCSEF research paper to receive full credit, but because the printer in the Research Room was exhausted of toner, I thought this wasn’t a rational request. Instead you should send me a PDF copy of the report. If you did that already, thank you. If not, please send it to me ASAP. Only after this is done will you receive full credit for entering NYCSEF.

Thank You,

NO MORE SPACE: The 10 slots were filled by 6:00 PM, Wednesday, December 12

The Rockefeller University will be hosting its 2012 Holiday Lecture on Science for High School Students on Thursday, December 27 from 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM. The Rockefeller Holiday Lecture was established in 1959 and modeled on the popular series of science lectures started by Michael Faraday in 1826. This year’s lecture entitled "Bacteria’s Deadly Design: How Earth’s most prevalent life-form uses a microscopic syringe to invade and attack" will be presented by Dr. C. Erec Stebbins, Associate Professor and head of the Laboratory of Structural Microbiology.

Let me know immediately if you wish to attend. I need to submit a list of names by Thursday, December 13 or they will not hold a space for us. This is a long event with a lunch break in the middle. The Rockefeller University is located on York Avenue and East 66th Street in Manhattan near the Hunter College subway station. You will have to provide your own transportation since DoE MetroCards are not valid during Winter Break. (I will reimburse you with a single use MetroCard that can be used for transportation during regular school hours.) Extra credit will be awarded for students who attend and complete the public lecture assignment.

NO MORE SPACE: The 10 slots were filled by 6:00 PM, Wednesday, December 12

Attention Seniors. I will be collecting NYCSEF Signature Pages on Monday, December 10, 2012. I need one for every project. You are responsible for completing the header and part a. I will fill in part b and the principal will do part c. You will get this form back on Thursday, December 13 when we assemble your completed NYCSEF applications. I will deliver everything on Friday, December 14.