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Added on Feb 04, 2009 | Filed Under: General News

Ochsner iLab to host local 7th and 8th Graders in Research Lab

NEW ORLEANS - Ochsner Medical Center iLab has received a $5000 grant from Cox Charities to host science education experiments with 10 local, middle schools. The Ochsner's Bubble Gum Mystery Experiment will begin on Thursday, February 5, 2009, at 8:30 am at 1514 Jefferson Hwy, with 7th graders from Ursuline Academy. "At the Ochsner iLab our goal is to complement and enhance students' classroom knowledge of science by giving them direct access to our scientific and medical expertise through practical, hands-on experience in our labs and expose them to the wide variety of career opportunities that exist in biomedical research and in healthcare," said Dr. Jawed Alam, Ochsner Molecular Geneticist. The Ochsner iLab is a life-science learning laboratory, used by local high school science teachers and students to carry out cutting-edge biotechnology experiments. Ursuline students will have the first opportunity to solve the Ochsner's Bubble Gum Mystery Experiment in the iLab; then, through the school year, nine other local schools will participate in the mystery. "This experiment is designed to teach students how to solve a mystery through science-based experiments and data recovery," explains Dr. Alam. The root of the experiment is to find out who left a piece of bubble gum on the teachers chair and ruined her dress. "We'd like to thank Cox Charities, who's funding gives us a great opportunity to implement a biotechnology program specifically for middle school students. Their donation allowed the purchase of teacher guides and student experiment booklets," says Dr. Alam. Previously, the majority of Ochsner's iLab education has been directed toward high school students. "But we feel that an even greater impact may be made if students were exposed to scientific activities at an earlier age," said Dr. Alam. If school officials would like to include their classrooms they may contact Allison Fischtziur, Senior Administrator and Project Coordinator of Ochsner Academic Community Outreach: (504) 842-5321, AFischtziur@Ochsner.org.

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