Biology students explore fields at U of M

Last month, some Park Rapids Area High School students journeyed to experience cutting-edge biology hands-on and hands-in.

The 14 juniors and sophomores traveled to the University of Minnesota- Twin Cities campus to tour science laboratories.

The tours included watching butterflies undergo metamorphosis, looking into an electron microscope and immersing their arms shoulder deep into the side of a living cow.

Instructor Kevin Young escorted the biology students as part of the University of Minnesota Science Education Partnership in Greater Minnesota (SEPGM), funded entirely with a grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

Students left at 6 a.m. Monday, April 2 and returned the next evening.

Tour highlights

Caleb Brown said the most interesting tour for him was the electron microscope. "They showed us examples of plants and trees at something like 300,000 times magnification," he said.

Electron microscopes use high voltage electricity to examine samples, he explained, so before a specimen can be examined, it must be encased in resin and placed in a vacuum.

"Then they shoot tens of thousands of volts of electrons through it, and you get an image," said Brown.

The microscope allows researchers to see mitochondria and viruses close up.

Tom Juberian said he was intrigued by the forensics at the veterinary diagnostic lab, where the high schoolers learned about the process of performing necropsies.

"They were dissecting all these deceased animals and running tests to learn how they died," Juberian said.

But for Brenna Steevens, the most unique experience was the fistulated cow.

Researchers at the university created an opening in a living cow's abdomen in order to get samples for stomach content analysis, she said.

Students were allowed to put on proper hygienic equipment and reach inside after a researcher removed its "cap."

"It was all grainy feeling in there. You could feel its pulse if you put your hand against the artery of its backbone," said Steevens. "It was really hot, too, and the stomach muscles would squeeze around your hand while it was in there."

The group ended Monday's programs with a visit to the U of M Raptor Center. The biology lovers saw eagles, hawks falcons and owls and learned about veterinary care for the birds of prey.

Students didn't spend all of their time engaged in science.

While in the Twin Cities, the participants visited the campus bookstore and attended a presentation on the college application process.

For a diversion Monday evening, the group attended the Minnesota Twins home opener.

Opening doors to science

2007 marked the second time Park Rapids received the grant to visit the U of M campus through SEPGM, said Young. Park Rapids biology students last toured the campus in 2005.

Young said SEPGM's mission is to connect with high school kids from rural environments.

Aside from campus tours, he added, SEPGM college participants complete semester-long student teaching internships at high schools across the state, including Park Rapids.

Part of the purpose of the trip was to expose students to areas of biology not typically encountered in a high school classroom, Young said.

The program seemed to have achieved its goal, at least with a couple Park Rapids students.

"I didn't really think all those things related to college," Juberian said. "It opened up a lot more doors. Biology is such a huge field. I never really realized there were that many things in the field."