Johns Hopkins University Montgomery County Campus; Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center; Universities at Shady Grove; healthcare organizations and private companies open their doors to expose students to science and medicine

In a collaborative effort to make science exciting, Johns Hopkins University Montgomery County Campus and neighbors in the Shady Grove Life Sciences Center are opening their doors and labs to Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) seventh grade students for a fun-filled, educational day of science and medicine.

The 7th annual Frontiers in Science and Medicine Day is scheduled for 8:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 9. Students from Redland Middle School in Derwood and Farquhar Middle School in Olney are participating in this year’s event. Approximately 400 students are slated to attend.

Students will spend part of the day at Johns Hopkins University Montgomery County Campus, where they will participate in hands-on science and medicine activities. The activities are run by local science research organizations and colleges.

Students will also spend part of the day visiting a local laboratory or hospital so they can experience what doctors and scientists do each day. Lab activities include viewing brain specimen under a microscope; learning how DNA is used in forensics; watching mosquitoes feed on blood to learn about malaria; and learning about proper techniques for making intravenous preparations. A full list of lab activities is below.

Lab tours will be held at Adventist Healthcare Shady Grove Medical Center; BioReliance; Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute; Institute for Bioscience & Biotechnology Research; Johns Hopkins University Wet Lab; National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences Chemical Genomics Center; Sanaria; University of Maryland School of Nursing; and University of Maryland School of Pharmacy.

Other participants in the event are the Universities at Shady Grove; MDBio Foundation; Rockville Science Center; Montgomery College; J. Craig Venter Institute; Salisbury University; TruBios; Vaxin; and MedImmune.

If you plan to cover this event, please email Ellen Poltilove at ellenp@jhu.edu to make arrangements to visit either Johns Hopkins Montgomery County Campus (9601 Medical Center Drive in Rockville) or a participating lab site.

Lab Tours

Adventist Healthcare Shady Grove Medical Center

Students will learn how medical professionals use modern technology in emergency situations to save lives. Students also will have an opportunity to tour the Pediatric Emergency Department.

BioReliance

Have you ever wondered whether the medicine you are taking is safe? Or why it takes so long for a new medicine to become available? BioReliance is one of the area’s leading companies providing developing, testing and manufacturing services to pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies around the world to ensure your medicine is safe. When you visit BioReliance, you will get a first-hand, behind-the-scenes look at the labs that test and manufacture medicine.

* Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute (BRNI) (AT JHU CAMPUS)

Students will learn about the brain and Alzheimer’s disease, and have an opportunity to view brain specimen under a microscope. Students also will gown up, practice how to pipette liquids, and use those skills to measure protein by spectroscopy.

Institute for Bioscience & Biotechnology Research

Students will see how researchers use advanced technologies to learn what molecules do in living systems. They will visit a plant transformation facility where plants are genetically transformed and grown in culture and an insect manipulation facility where mosquitoes are transformed using state-of-the-art genetic manipulation equipment.

* Johns Hopkins University Wet Lab Forensic Science (AT JHU CAMPUS)

Students will learn about DNA and how it is used in forensics (think CSI) in our state-of-the-art teaching lab. Students will do experiments with DNA that will help identify the culprit in our “who ate the cat food” scenario and will use several pieces of lab equipment.

* Johns Hopkins University Disease Detective (AT JHU CAMPUS)

Become an epidemiologist as you and your team work to solve the mystery surrounding a growing epidemic that has hit one small town. Determine the source of the disease and how to keep the “Zombie” virus from spreading.

National Center for the Advancement of Translational Sciences Chemical Genomics Center

Students will see the laboratory’s experimental screening robot in action. The robot, which can perform more than 2.2 million experiments per day, is the main piece of equipment used to determine the activities of different chemicals on cells, genes and proteins.

Sanaria

Mosquitoes will be set up so students can see their different developmental stages and watch them feed on blood. Students also will view malaria parasites under the microscope and learn about freezing biological materials using liquid nitrogen.

University of Maryland School of Nursing

Simulation is a technique that allows students in a healthcare field to practice their skills, lean to work in teams and manage real-life situations with a computerized manikin before caring for actual patients. Students participating in Frontiers in Science and Medicine Day will meet “Sim Man” and participate in a simulation experience, find out how many germs are on their cell phone and what’s in their favorite snacks.

University of Maryland School of Pharmacy

Today’s pharmacists do much more than dispensing medications. Students will see a medication order processing area, which houses 12 order entry terminals, prescription and over-the-counter-medications, robotics and new technologies that enhance safe medication practice. Students also will visit four IV hoods, where they will learn proper sterile technique while making intravenous preparations. Students also can see the patient counseling area, which pharmacists-in-training practice advising patients on prescriptions, immunizations, disease states and more.