ERIC Number: EJ1458690
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2024-Apr
Pages: 7
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0021-9584
EISSN: EISSN-1938-1328
Molecules in Medicine: A Week-Long Multidisciplinary Summer Camp for High School Students
Shannon C. Timmons; Aleksandra Kuzmanov
Journal of Chemical Education, v101 n4 p1544-1550 2024
Health-related career goals are popular among high school science students, yet few understand the application of chemistry and biology research to the field of medicine and its impact on society. In this five-day multidisciplinary summer camp, high school students learn about the real-world relevance of medicinal chemistry research and its application to human health through a series of hands-on synthesis, isolation, and biological testing experiments. Our approach makes use of natural product related bioactive molecules, namely aspirin, oil of wintergreen, and eugenol, to highlight the connection between biology and chemistry in the field of medicinal chemistry. The subsequent analysis of these pharmaceutical agents via a variety of antibacterial testing, cell viability, and toxicity assays helps students understand the drug discovery process. In addition to laboratory experiments, students learn about various health professions through visits to Lawrence Technological University nursing and physician assistant program suites and a meeting with an experienced pre-health professions advisor. Through this unique ensemble of experiences, high school students gain valuable insights into the nature and impact of scientific research on the field of medicine and learn about a variety of health-related occupations. Participant survey responses indicate that students enjoyed learning about chemistry- and biology-related concepts and techniques related to the drug discovery process. Furthermore, this week-long summer camp met or exceeded all participants' expectations, with many students expressing enhanced confidence in their scientific abilities.
Descriptors: Scientific Concepts, Molecular Structure, Medicine, Interdisciplinary Approach, Summer Programs, Camps, High School Students, Chemistry, Biology, Relevance (Education), Pharmacology, Science Education, Science Laboratories, Health Occupations, Student Attitudes
Division of Chemical Education, Inc. and ACS Publications Division of the American Chemical Society. 1155 Sixteenth Street NW, Washington, DC 20036. Tel: 800-227-5558; Tel: 202-872-4600; e-mail: eic@jce.acs.org; Web site: http://pubs.acs.org/jchemeduc
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: High Schools; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A