Cambridge high school students shine in marine science internship program
JEI mentors recently worked with students at Cambridge Rindge and Latin School to help turn their science projects into scientific manuscripts.
Contributed by Liza Litvina.
As spring turns into summer, JEI members continue to connect with middle and high school students who want to get an early start in science. This past semester, graduate student writing mentors worked with juniors and seniors at Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School (CRLS) to turn classroom laboratory work into manuscripts for submission to JEI. A combination of science writing workshops and one-on-one sessions introduced the young investigators to science communication and writing. On May 28th, five CRLS students presented their research and answered questions at Harvard’s Biological Laboratories. The audience included Harvard professors as well as JEI writing mentors. Among the scientific mentors was Peter Girguis, Ph. D., Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology at Harvard, who has collaborated with CRLS and Marine Biology teacher Paul McGuinness to bring students into his lab for the internship over several years. Research topics ranged from robotics to biochemistry, physiology, and behavior.
This summer, four students are continuing their lab work at Harvard while meeting with writing mentors to turn their work into publishable manuscripts for JEI. Thus far, mentors have helped the students polish their Introduction and Materials & Methods sections. Once the students complete data gathering and analysis, they will wrap up their manuscripts with thorough results and discussion. After submission to our journal, Harvard PhD students with relevant expertise will act as peer reviewers. The writing mentor program is expected to continue and expand next year for a new cohort of CRLS students in the Marine Sciences Internship course.
- Eleanor McCartney. Topic: Horizontal or vertical endosymbiont infection in the bivalve Solemya velum. Scientific Mentor: Shelbi Russell, Cavanaugh lab, OEB, Harvard University.
- Sam Ingersol. Topic: 3D design and fabrication of SoftRobotic biomimicry of Mantra Ray wing. Scientific Mentor: Dr Donal Holland, SEAS Harvard University.
- Paul McGuinness, marine biology teacher at CRLS and director of the Marine Sciences Internship Program.