The Science of Discovery - There will no Spring 2010 Symposium - Watch this area for a Fall 2010 Science Symposium
Contemporary research techniques and theory. Group discussion and college-level laboratory experience. Relevant, cutting-edge topics. High school students throughout the region rave about the Three Rivers Symposium. It's a day that will make a huge difference in sharpening your skills, not to mention introducing you to studies at the university level - and you are invited to participate!
Spaces are limited.
This fall's symposium will enroll a limited number of highly qualified high school sophomore, junior and senior students. Participation is limited so you can work in small groups with our university faculty. Contact our office today by calling 260-399-8067, or emailing cexner@sf.edu, with any questions.
Fall Symposium Topics
Synthesis and Cytoxicity of Chalcones
Director: Dr. Pamela Lord
Medicinal chemists discover, design, and develop pharmaceutical drugs. In addition, students may have the opportunity to see their drug through clinical trial and potentially human trials. In this workshop, we will design a series of molecules which have been explored for their potential as cytotoxic drugs.
Chalcones, a derivative of combretastatin A4, are a class of molecules being explored for their potential to starve tumor cells of oxygen. In combination with radiation or chemotherapy, these drugs have shown promise for future cancer therapies. In this workshop, each student will have the opportunity to synthesize their own chalcone. You will learn methods to isolate, purify, and characterize their product using melting point (MP), infrared (IR) spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, UV-Visible (UV-VIS) spectroscopy. We will also explore the cytotoxicity of the chalcone and relate the structure to its function.
Paleontology Rocks!
Directors: Drs. Richard Hurley and Larry Wiedman
Who hasn't at some time dreamed of discovering dinosaur bones or some other prehistoric beasties? Come join Drs. Richard Hurley and Larry Wiedman as they explore the biological and geological sides of Paleontology. Participants will spend most of the time eyeball-to-specimen and very hands-on, up close and personal, with real fossil specimens while learning to eke out taxonomic, ecologic and taphonomic (ancester/decendent relationships, niche/habitats, and what happens when they die) information from them. We will use the extensive fossil collection housed at Saint Francis that few ever get to have contact with.