Sponsors

Dr. Teresa Mallow-
a Science Teacher at PHS and former NIST Scientist

Erin Binns-
a science teacher at PHS

Prasad Gerard-
a science teacher at PHS

Dan Savino-
a science teacher at PHS

Leslie Gum-
a science teacher at PHS

Kenneth Cole-
NIST Scientist

Adolfos Gaigalas-
NIST Scientist

Mary Saterfield-
NIST Scientist

Steven Choquette-
NIST Scientist

Description

6 students work on a interdisciplinary project concocted by one PHS teacher Dr. Mallow. Mallow hand selected 4 students Drew, Naki, Katherine, and Matt to work side by side a group of NIST scientists to make an Algae Bio-Reactor. She also picked two other students Amanda and Saniya to document the process and to handle the presenation of this project. These six students have started and hope to create make this project a legacy to be taken on for students ofor years to come. What makes this group of students special is that although this project seems to be purely of the math and science genre the students are from all different houses Science, Math and Computer Science, Global Ecology, and Humanities.

This project is intended to be student-driven, however staff-supported, and a good hands on experience in the field of biotechnology. This summer these students will continue to conduct their research and finish their individual projects at NIST. In the upcoming school year the project will be moved to the Analytical Chemistry classroon.

The money used to fund the equipment for the project has been given from various contributors. Some imparticular have been The Piedmont Environmental Education Foundation who donated $1,000 and the Toyota Tapestry Large Grant program who donated $10,000 dollars. If interested in donating to the project, one can visit DonorsChoose.org.

A bioreactor is an apparatus, such as a large fermentation chamber, for growing organisms such as bacteria or yeast that are used in the biotechnological production of substances such as pharmaceuticals, antibodies, or vaccines, or for the bioconversion of organic waste.