Medical Science Camp Week 1
Infectious Diseases and Pandemic:
Who's winning the war on Germs?
July 11 to July 15
Camp Description
High school students (grades 9-11) who might be interested in medicine or biomedical research will have an exciting opportunity to explore the diverse world of microbes. They will participate in the collection and isolation of organisms from a variety of common sources and learn laboratory techniques required for growing, visualizing and identifying bacterial colonies. They will learn about those microorganisms that are essential for life and useful for our economy, as well as those that cause disease and threaten our very existence.
Sample Investigations
- Is the 5-second rule fact or fiction?
We've all done it. We dropped a piece of food on the floor—maybe the last piece of candy in the bag—and we really want to eat it. Is it safe to eat if we pick it up quickly? How about blowing on it or wiping it on our sleeve? We will run some experiments to see what happens to dropped food. - How safe is the food we buy in the market, and if we irradiate it will it glow in the dark?
We rely on food inspectors to make sure that the food on our shelves is safe, but what does that mean? We will sample foods we buy at the market for the presence of bacteria and other microorganisms, and investigate some of the various processes we can use to minimize our chances of getting sick. - What happens when we do get sick?
We will investigate the immune system and how vaccinations work to keep us from getting sick. We will also use sophisticated laboratory procedures to see how doctors can tell whether or not we have been exposed to pathogenic microorganisms.
Other Notes
Students are expected to bring a lunch.
Snacks will be provided during the day.
