Advanced science students showcased their DYO (Design Your Own) experiments at the first annual Science Symposium at the Pritzker Science Center last Friday night. Students presented the results of their month-long experiments to friends, faculty and some family who mingled on Pritzker’s first floor.
Isabelle Lelogeais’ (I) project was titled “The Effect of Angular Cuts or Rate and Progression of Planarian Regeneration.” An Advanced Biology student, Isabelle explained how she cut different sections of the planarian, also known as flatworms, at an angle to see whether they regenerated at the angle of her cut. She found that they did, and was happy to have data that supported her hypothesis.
Two groups of students presented their projections of antigravity experiments on the bobtail squid, which have been breeding in one of the science labs since the winter. During spring break, these students traveled to Florida with science faculty Ned Bean. Together they worked in a lab at the University of Florida in Gainesville with a professor who specializes in studying the unique squid. The students assisted on an experiment that is ready to launch on the final mission of the Space Shuttle Endeavor later this week.
“We are excited that when the shuttle returns we will be able to see the results and whether our conclusions are true or false,” said Ashlee Bae (II), one of the students who worked on the experiments.
Other experiments focused on the effect of road salt in the local Pine Tree Brook, the effect of temperatures on the molecular structure of taffy candy, and studies on electrical currents.
Faculty member Michael Edgar said the science department’s goal was to give advanced students an opportunity to share their work and he is looking forward to making the symposium an annual event.
