Ruth Russell, who teaches Questar III’s New Visions: Scientific Research & World Health on-site at the University at Albany’s East Campus, presented astrobiology research at the 2010 Science Teachers of New York State (STANYS) Conference held in Rochester on November 7.
Working with Annie Chien, the International Baccalaureate biology teacher at Schenectady High School, Russell presented results from the Astrobiology Teachers Academy held over the summer at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Russell was one of local 10 high school science teachers selected to work with scientists from Rensselaer and the University at Albany. Astrobiology is the study of the origin, evolution, distribution, and future of life in the universe.
Russell’s presentation focused on the early events in the origins of life from raw materials, the need for compartmentalization being met by phospholipid micelle formation and endosymbiosis, a critical event in the formation of complex cells.
She said the link to astrobiology is that these same processes, which seem to be spontaneous, could indeed occur anywhere in the universe, under the right conditions. A hands-on lab module was developed to model these events.
Russell, who has taught at Questar III since 2005, said she is looking to inspire more students to pursue science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) courses and careers. “Participation in the Academy enabled me to learn directly from the professionals in the field about this important area of research, resulting in the design of specific curricular modules that address the creation of life,” she said.
A trained molecular biologist that specialized in cancer research, Russell is no stranger to working with scientists during her summer vacation. Three years ago, Russell worked with Dr. John Tine, director of the Molecular Genetics laboratory at Center for Functional Genomics, on DNA analysis, as part of an initiative sponsored by the Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber of Commerce. This experience gave her an opportunity to get a closer look at the Center, which is located just down the hall from her New Visions lab in East Greenbush.
Last summer, Russell spent a month working with Dr. Shaker Mousa of the Pharmaceutical Research Institute honing her research skills and developing hands-on lab experiences for her New Visions program.
Russell also works with ninth graders every July as part of the Tech Valley Summer Camp held at local technology sites. The annual camp, sponsored by the Greater Capital Region Career Pathways Consortium, provides opportunities for students to spend five days alongside professionals in nanotechnology, biotechnology, advanced materials, alternative energy, information technology and multidisciplinary engineering.
This summer, students made their own video games at Vicarious Visions in Menands, learned about cutting-edge lighting innovations at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s Smart Lighting Engineering Research Center, competed in a robot rodeo at Tech Valley High School and explored aviation technology at Albany International Airport.
It was the fifth year Russell worked with the tech camp and the second year she directed the program.
