Posted on Thursday, March 13, 2008
Westminster College will host "The Science Scene," a workshop of hands-on chemistry and biology laboratory projects for middle school students, Saturday, April 5, from 2-5 p.m. in the Hoyt Science Resources Center.
The workshop is sponsored by Westminster's Drinko Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, Chemistry Club, and Beta Beta Beta Biological Society. Additional support comes from Westminster's Departments of Biology and Chemistry.
Sixth- through ninth-grade students from New Castle, Neshannock, Mercer, Hermitage, Sharon, Wilmington, and Butler school districts are included. Reservations are requested by March 29, and the nominal fee may be paid on arrival.
Workshop organizers are Westminster College students Nikki Batey, a sophomore biochemistry major and daughter of Debra and Hollis Batey of McDonald; and Kim Worst, a junior chemistry major and daughter of Paul and Maria Worst of Butler.
Worst said, "We will be conducting some taste-and-smell activities for students in the sixth and seventh grades to test their senses. For the eighth- and ninth-graders, we are planning a DNA necklace activity, where students can use their own cheek cells and extract their own DNA. Chemistry projects will include making 'snow' and revealing a secret method using chemical reactions."
Dr. Helen Boylan, Westminster College associate professor of chemistry, is the workshop adviser.
Contact Batey at (412) 302-7202 (e-mail bateynl@westminster.edu) or Worst at (724) 991-0429 (e-mail worstkm@westminster.edu) for additional information or to make reservations.
