Aubrey Poole had never worked in a lab setting before she arrived at the University of Tennessee in early July. The 15-year-old from Columbus, Mississippi wasn’t sure what to expect when she was placed in a group and assigned to work on a research project.
“I thought in labs you would just do random things, but they actually had a really specific goal that they were working towards,” Poole said. “It was really cool seeing that and understanding how to go about the process. I learned a lot as we went along.”
Poole’s visit to UT came through her participation in the Appalachian STEM Academy Bridge Program at Oak Ridge. The all-expenses-paid, residential program in Oak Ridge, Tennessee is designed to provide hands-on STEM learning experiences for students and teachers located in the Appalachian region.
Poole and eight other high school students under age 16 were on the UT campus from July 5–18. During the two-week experience, the students learned about how to detect foodborne pathogens and how do develop functional nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery. They worked with current UT students and faculty in the lab of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Professor Michael Danquah.
“They put in a lot of effort, they had a lot of energy, and they were interested in the subject matter,” said Tracy Bruce-Tagoe, a CBE graduate teaching assistant who worked with the students. “They looked like they were excited about what they were doing. It was very rewarding to see that.”
Along with their group projects, the students toured the UT campus, learned about lab safety, visited the Institute for Advanced Materials and Manufacturing (IAMM) at UT Research Park, and worked with faculty, staff, university researchers, and Tickle College of Engineering students.
“Throughout my time at camp I learned a lot, made life-long friends, and solidified my choice of pursuing a future career in the STEM field,” said Elliana Brown, a high school student from Laceyville, Pennsylvania. “I appreciate how much I learned and the experiences I was able to have while at camp and cannot wait to see the boundless ways the program can and will grow.”
Scientific Growth Spurts
As part of their research on foodborne pathogens and food safety, the students were broken into two groups to work on separate projects: SPR characterization of aptamers binding to the IsdA surface protein of Staphylococcus aureus, and Synthesis of Janus Particles for the application in targeted drug delivery.
Bruce-Tagoe and fellow CBE graduate teaching assistant George Adu Asamoah took each group through the research question, the hypothesis, the methods they would be using, and the results they would be expecting.
The program culminated with a final group presentation where students showcased their work at ORNL.
“Their progress was awesome,” Bruce Tagoe said. “Seeing them go from a place where they couldn’t even calculate the concentrations or the volumes of what is needed to make a simple solution in the lab to the point where they were able to fabricate actual sensors and make actual particles that you can see was extremely rewarding. They could even talk about the work like they’ve been at it for years.”
Adu Asamoah appreciated how immersed the students were in their work and how much curiosity they expressed about the science behind the projects.
“They showed a genuine interest in understanding the research by asking lots of questions and wanting to directly engage in the experiment,” he said. “They usually came back from breaks with demonstrations of the things we had just discussed. They jokingly used some of the terms in their casual conversations, demonstrating understanding and excitement about the whole experience.”
Generational Learning Experience
The opportunity to guide younger students inspired Adu Asamoah and reinforced the importance of early exposure to research and the development of problem-solving skills. It also helped him understand how to communicate complex concepts to people with simple illustrations and terms, something he believes will benefit him throughout this career.
“I was reminded of the power of mentorship; how a small moment of guidance can spark a lasting interest in someone,” Adu Asamoah said. “The last day comments from several of the students informing me that they would go ahead to pursue STEM was all the evidence I needed.”
Wyatt Wood, 14, of Knoxville left the camp feeling more confident in his ability to speak in front of a large group and work with teammates. Not only did Wood gain more scientific knowledge over the two weeks at UT, but he also made lasting memories and relationships that will endure.
“Being around other young people who are passionate about science and having mentors who are brilliant experts in fields where they are doing important research furthered my desire to work in this area in the future,” said Wood, a two-time state champion in Science Olympiad. “This camp made my summer, and I can’t wait to sign up for the high school program in the future.”
Contact
Rhiannon Potkey ([email protected])