Media representatives are invited to experience hands-on science aboard Destiny, one of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s two traveling science laboratories, when it visits East Carteret High School, West Carteret High School and Havelock High School next week.
UNC Media Advisory
For immediate use: Friday, Sept. 28, 2007
Media invited to see UNC’s Destiny science bus in Carteret and Craven counties
Media representatives are invited to experience hands-on science aboard Destiny, one of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s two traveling science laboratories, when it visits East Carteret High School, West Carteret High School and Havelock High School next week.
Tuesday (Oct. 2)
11:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
1:20 p.m. to 2:50 p.m.
East Carteret High School
3263 Hwy 70 East, Beaufort
Students from two of Stephanie Sanders’ classes will perform a lab exercise called “Get a Clue.” Students will assume the role of forensic scientists and perform DNA restriction analysis (popularly known as DNA fingerprinting) to analyze drops of “blood” and other kinds of evidence found at crime scenes as they determine which suspects are guilty or innocent.
Wednesday (Oct. 3)
8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
West Carteret High School
4700 Country Club Road, Morehead City
Students from one of Mary Loveless’ forensic science classes will also perform “Get a Clue.”
Wednesday (Oct. 3)
9:40 a.m. to 11:05 a.m.
West Carteret High School
4700 Country Club Road, Morehead City
During the same visit, students from one of Jackie Marsh’s advanced placement biology classes will perform “BioBusiness.” Students will discover how businesses use recombinant DNA technology to tailor products to meet customers’ needs. Using genetic engineering techniques, they will explore the mechanisms of gene expression and gene selection.
Thursday (Oct. 4)
9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Havelock High School
101 Webb Boulevard, Havelock
Students from one of Rob Thomas’ marine biology classes will perform a lab exercise called “From Finches to Fishes.” Students will learn the fundamental principles of evolution and natural selection. They will use protein gel electrophoresis to acquire molecular data with which they will construct an evolutionary tree for five fish species. Students will examine proteomics as the new frontier of molecular biology and its importance to understanding the structure and function of the human genome and the genomes of other organisms.
The Destiny traveling science learning program is Morehead Planetarium and Science Center’s formal science education initiative serving pre-college teachers and students across North Carolina. Destiny develops and delivers a standards-based, hands-on curriculum for students and professional development for teachers with a team of educators and a fleet of vehicles that travel throughout the state.
Destiny and Discovery, two custom-built, 40-foot, 33,000-pound buses, bring the latest science and technology equipment to students who otherwise would not see a high-tech laboratory or what a career in science can offer. The modules described above are among 14 offered as part of Destiny’s curriculum. All of Destiny’s modules are aligned with the N.C. Standard Course of Study.
The science buses are powerful visual images that heighten public awareness of the importance of and funding necessary for quality science education. The Destiny program first hit the road in 2000.
Destiny Web site: http://www.moreheadplanetarium.org/go/destiny
Destiny contact: Claire Ruocchio, (919) 843-5915 or clr@unc.edu
News Services contact: Susan Houston, (919) 962-8415 or susan_houston@unc.edu