The Department of Molecular Biosciences (MBS) in the College of Arts and Sciences hosted high school students from Tampa’s Freedom High School for a visit to learn more about the field of molecular biosciences.
Freedom High School students were given the opportunity to observe D. melanogaster fruit flies under the microscope in the genetics laboratory. (Photo courtesy of Sandy Westerheide)
The visit, held in April, included both bioscience classroom experiences and hands-on learning opportunities, according to Dr. Sandy Westerheide, associate professor in MBS and advisor of the Molecular Biosciences Club at USF.
The Molecular Biosciences Club students, led by co-presidents Yalini Somesan and Rosaura Munoz-Luna, and past president Sasha Post, served as guides and mentors throughout the day for the visiting high school students. They also participated in an interactive "eat and learn" lunch with the visiting students.
“Our overarching goal was to ensure that students, who might not otherwise be aware of the opportunities and programs available in the biosciences, learn about what USF has to offer,” Westerheide explained. “By exposing these students to the possibilities for future careers, we aim to encourage a more diverse cohort of students to enter our programs. This diversity is expected to enrich the types of questions asked in research and lead to greater representation in the molecular biosciences workforce.”
Krishna Rentachintala (far left) leads Freedom High School students in an activity in the genetics laboratory (Photo courtesy of Sandy Westerheide)
The visit included stops at Dr. Johnny El-Rady’s human genetics class, where students sat in on a lecture and interacted with undergraduate students in science trivia teams, and a preview of Westerheide’s cancer biology course, where undergraduates provided short presentations on various cancer topics.
The high school students also made a stop to Westerheide’s lab to view C. elegans worms, and then participated in a D. melanogaster lab experience led by Krishna Rentachintala.
“These activities emphasized hands-on learning and direct interaction with model organisms and genetic experiments,” Westerheide explained.
The partnership with Freedom High School sprung from Westerheide and a few of her undergraduate students’ participation in the Great American Teach-In where she met with Freedom High School’s Christina Grigoropoulos, an AP chemistry teacher, and Jason Danahy-Sheldon, an anatomy and physiology teacher.
This is the second time MBS has hosted Freedom High School students for a visit.
“I hope that the high school students, who may not otherwise have an opportunity to visit and learn about USF biosciences offerings, were able to experience a typical student experience. I also hope that they were inspired and encouraged to pursue the biosciences through interactions with our students and teachers,” Westerheide said.
Westerheide adds that her undergraduate students who participated in the event, also found it beneficial.
“The undergraduates also enjoyed the chance to interact with and mentor the high school students, with some stating, ‘It was so nice sharing the class with high school students today. I know I would have been beyond excited to sit in on a cancer biology lecture as a high school senior!’” she said.
Westerheide said this visit was a success thanks to its collaborative nature.
“We greatly appreciate the support of the College of Arts and Sciences, for some financial support and for helping to procure some USF swag for the students. We also appreciate the Hillsborough County Public School System for providing transportation for the students and for allowing this day to happen. We had many positive comments from the high school students, and we hope to continue this event in future semesters. We are especially motivated by a comment from a student’s mother: “I want to thank you so much for the opportunity today! I haven’t seen my child smile like this in a while!’”
Learn more about the Department of Molecular Biosciences and majors offered.
Freedom High School students gather for a group photo together with their teachers and members of the USF Molecular Biosciences Club, who volunteered as mentors for the day. (Photo courtesy of Sandy Westerheide)