Lynn Classical Students Participate in High School Science Discovery Program

This week, students from Lynn Classical High School in Lynn, Massachusetts, got the full MBL treatment. They spent five days in Woods Hole as part of the MBL's High School Science Discovery program.

The 22 students and their four teachers split into two cohorts depending on their scientific interests. Half the students took Anatomy and Development of Marine Vertebrates and Invertebrates, taught by MBL Veterinarian Lisa Abbo and MBL Director Nipam Patel. The other half took a new course, Adaptation and Evolution in Response to Environmental Challenges, taught by MBL Associate Scientist Kristin Gribble.

"This program lets students experience hands-on science in a way that isn't possible for most high schoolers. The courses are taught by some of the best scientists in the field. It's an amazing opportunity," said Scott Bennett, manager of secondary education at the MBL.

Students from Lynn Classical High School participate in the MBL's High School Science Discovery Program in February 2022. Credit: Emily Greenhalgh

Course Descriptions

Anatomy and Development of Marine Vertebrates and Invertebrates

The course focuses on anatomy, development, and physiology of marine species. Lab work incorporates advanced microscopy and imaging techniques, including the opportunity to create time-lapse videos and 3D reconstructions, and explores animal husbandry and research. Students learn how major organ systems develop during embryogenesis, how scientists understand organ formation during normal development, and how errors in this process lead to birth defects.

Adaptation and Evolution in Response to Environmental Challenges

In this course, students will use aquatic invertebrates and plankton to explore the fundamentals of evolutionary biology, including concepts of adaptation, fitness, genetic heritability, and epigenetic transgenerational inheritance. We will discuss the role of life history strategy–and organisms’ abilities to change their life history strategy in response to environmental conditions—in determining fitness and allowing adaptation. Additionally, we learn how studying such traits and mechanisms in model organisms can actually help us to understand human biology, and how research in aquatic animals can lead to improvements in human health. Laboratory studies will use an aquatic invertebrate animal, the rotifer, and explore examples from a variety of other marine animals. Laboratory techniques used will include microscopy, culturing phytoplankton and zooplankton, analysis of behavior, basic molecular biology, and data analysis.

Learn more about the High School Science Discovery Program

Are you a high school teacher or administrator interested in bringing your science-interested students to the MBL? Learn more about our High School Science Discovery Program and email education@mbl.edu for more information.