By experiencing
scientific research, students become excited about science, especially when
they take possession of their own projects. Archaeology and paleontology are
two topics that particularly attract students. Fieldwork can "turn on"
people to paleontology and archaeology more effectively than many other activities.
This project employs local high school students and teachers to perform university-level
hands-on scientific research that will develop their critical thinking, logical
reasoning, creative scientific writing, and presentation skills, thereby improving
their educational performance. Students, teachers and scientists work cooperatively
as a team, but each student participant has their "own" individualized
project to complete.
Collaborating
for five years with Queens College, students from Queens high schools performed
ESR dating research, using teeth from archaeological and paleontological sites.
Currently the program involves 10-15 students per year from New York City high
schools, and 3-5 teachers.
To increase
access for area students who may not be able to be away from home for prolonged
periods, we use the satellite ESR preparation lab at RFK to prepare ESR samples,
and then collaborate with scientists at the Williams College ESR Dating Lab,
living in Williamstown for 10 days.
In the RFK
institute, working one-on-one with lab scientists and technicians, students
and teachers perform all the steps for ESR dating, except sample collection
in the field and those involving irradiation. Similar research has proven safe
and successful for high school students for more than six years, yielding 13
published abstracts (5 with student first authors), 6 scientific papers published
or in preparation (5 student first authors), and 11 Westinghouse/Intel reports,
as well as more than 30 science fair entries. Every student who has completed
a project so far has obtained valid, publishable results from dating teeth.
The work requires a detailed understanding of mathematics, physical and biological
sciences and the ability to work as an integral scientific team member. At RFK,
students do the preparation steps prior to irradiation. After the ESR staff
irradiates the students' samples, students analyze their samples by ESR spectrometer
at Williams College. Students then return to RFK to calculate their ages and
write their final reports. In the fall, they prepare their science fair projects.
Should they continue with the program for more than one year, students will
assist in training other students. Two of our current and two previous ESR technicians
began as high school students in similar research projects.
For further
information, contact Dr.
Bonnie Blackwell or
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