WHSTEP
Woods Hole Science and Technology Education
Partnership
Spring/Summer 2006 Issue: Volume 15, No. 2
WHSTEP General Meeting
-Arlene Hanlon
WHSTEP members and guests had the opportunity to
“tune in” to their own episode of “CSI” at the
WHSTEP General Meeting, held January 25 at North
Falmouth Elementary School. The guest speaker was
“Detective” Suzanne Avtges, a biology teacher at
Mashpee High School and a WHSTEP liaison. Her
talk was entitled “CSI - Clam Site Investigation: How
I Spent My Summer Vacation.” Ms. Avtges’
investigation began after Sean Johnson, one of her
students, entered the state science fair in 2004 as
an independent entry. The award for his winning
science project included the Genzyme Teacher
Internship award, a $5000 teacher research grant.
To find a suitable summer research project, Avtges
contacted Drs. Roxanna Smolowitz and Rebecca Gast
for suggestions. Both scientists are involved in
research on QPX, a parasite that attacks clam mantle
and gills. A disease that was likely caused by QPX
was first reported in quahogs in New Brunswick in
1959. In the early nineties, QPX was observed in
Chatham and Provincetown, and by the late nineties,
it was observed as far south as Virginia. QPX
mortality rates as high as 80 – 95% have been
observed in some populations.
In her investigation, Avtges collected samples from
bivalves, snails, empty shells, algae, and water.
Samples were taken from a positive site, where QPX
had been reported, and from a negative site, a spot
where QPX was not known to be present. The
locations of the study sites were in Wellfleet Harbor,
near Egg Island, and Indian Neck, a more exposed
site in Wellfleet. Back in the lab, Avtges isolated
QPX by extracting DNA from her samples and
- Continued on page 2 – “Avtges”
WHSTEP Science Safari - March 30,
2006
- Pat Harcourt
The neat, rectangular buildings of the United States
Geological Survey at Quissett Campus in Woods Hole
are unremarkable on the outside. However, the
teachers who attended the WHSTEP safari “Bouncing
Sound and Mapping with Math in the Oceans” on
Thursday, March 30, were treated to an astonishing
virtual reality experience and engaging discussions
with scientists about using sound to study the ocean.
They also learned about the colorful maps, themed
lesson plans, and fact sheets on local and national
projects available to teachers through USGS.
As soon as they entered, the teachers were greeted
by Chris Polloni and Nancy Soderberg of USGS.
WHSTEP administrator Liese Siemann and board
member Pat Harcourt directed the teachers to
choose the appropriate handouts, including the lesson
plans they had collected and modified for different
grade levels, and made sure each teacher came away
with a thick folder of lessons and background
information to take back to the classroom. The
teachers were then led behind a curtain to meet the
Geo Wall. Chris Polloni introduced this high-tech
device with a dual projector and large screen and
explained how it uses data collected on acoustic
surveys of the sea floor and renders it into threedimensional images. Most amazingly, the technology
allows the operator to use a hand-held gyroscopic
joystick to “fly” through the bathymetric landscape,
so the driver could rise, sink and turn on command.
Everyone tried the pilot’s seat, and after swooping
and rolling around the dips, trenches, and seamounts
of the terrain between Bermuda and the Caribbean,
all agreed that it would take considerable experience
- Continued on page 2 - “Safari”
The WOODS HOLE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP (WHSTEP),
established in 1989, is a partnership of schools, scientific institutions, businesses, and community
resources. Its purpose is to support, promote, and expand science, math, and technology education
and science literacy in the participating communities.
- Continued from page 1 – “Avtges”
- Continued from page 1 – “Safari”
to master the technique! Next the teachers met
with Nancy Soderberg, who showed the group highresolution maps of the coastline of Louisiana before
and after hurricane Katrina, and many other posters
explaining USGS research projects. Soderberg made
sure all of the teachers had the fact sheets on the
methods and equipment used by USGS scientists for
underwater mapping studies. This information was
important as background for the second half of the
safari.
using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to
specifically amplify the QPX DNA. After
amplification, the QPX DNA could be identified on
electrophoresis gels. Avtges found QPX in the
samples from both the positive and negative site,
leading her to conclude that “QPX is everywhere” in
the waters around Wellfleet. The problem remaining
for scientists is to determine the amount of QPX
that needs to be present in the environment to infect
clams. However, Avtges said that although she
thoroughly enjoyed her clam investigations, she looks
forward to being on hiatus this summer.
The group then traveled to the USGS Marine
Operations Facility off Woods Hole Road, where they
were met with a challenge. They were given a list of
underwater research equipment, and after examining
the numbered devices in the facility, they had to
match the equipment with its description. The
teachers found the detective work fun and engaging.
Each piece of equipment was specialized for a certain
use, such as wide-area or high-resolution imaging,
measuring current velocities in three dimensions, or
collecting an intact sample of the bottom without
disturbing the sediments. The teachers had experts
available to consult during their sleuthing exercise,
and as each teacher successfully identified the
instruments, all agreed it was a great way to learn
about how sound is used to study the sea.
WHSTEP would like to thank Suzanne Avtges for
enthusiastically volunteering to share her research
experience and North Falmouth Elementary School
for hosting this event.
WHSTEP would like to extend many thanks to Chris
Polloni, Nancy Soderberg, and Ellen Mecray of USGS
who coordinated this Safari, and to the many USGS
staff who helped make the session a memorable
learning experience.
Liese Siemann
Please join us for the
at the Waquoit Bay National Estuarine
Research Reserve
on Thursday May 11th from 4 – 5:30 PM
Come learn about
Liese Siemann
USGS scientist Chris Polloni helps teachers fly
through the Puerto Rican trench and identify
research equipment at the recent WHSTEP safari.
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Renewable Energy Resources
WHSTEP’s Mini-Grant Program
Programs at WBNERR
Lawrence School Science Project
Mentoring Program
studying the life cycles of different animals and
plants, and she is using WHSTEP funds to purchase
simple science equipment, kits, and manipulatives that
will enhance her planned curriculum.
- Liese Siemann
For 9 years, WHSTEP has organized a science
project mentoring program at the Lawrence School in
Falmouth. Members of the WHSTEP scientific
community volunteer their time to meet with 7th and
8th grade students and help them design and refine
their science projects. Students meet with the
volunteer mentors one-on-one for 15 to 25 minutes
during their science class periods. This year,
mentoring took place in mid-January and again in midFebruary.
Tracey Crago and Andrea Thorrold received a minigrant to fund equipment needed for a new module in
the Discovery Science Program at Mullen-Hall School.
WHSTEP funding was used to purchase supplies
needed to install a new weather station at the school
and computer software that will allow the staff and
students to make their weather data available online.
Tracey Crago and Andrea Thorrold, both from
WHOI, have been volunteers involved in the
Discovery Science Program at Mullen-Hall during
recent years.
WHSTEP thanks the following volunteers for taking
their time to help the students at the Lawrence
School.
Jeff Farrington is a science teacher at Bourne High
School. He is using mini-grant funds to purchase new
Community Dynamics software to enhance the ecology
unit in his classes. Using the new software, his
students will be able to manipulate parameters
related to birth and death rates and predator/prey
relationships and study the effects of these
parameters on simulated communities.
Michele Bahr, Sarah Bordenstein, Ben Felzer, Seth
Kauppinen, Michelle Marshall, Hilary Morrison, and
Susie Theroux (MBL); Luk Van Parijs (MIT); Chris
Legault, Pat Murphy, Paul Rago, and Gary Shepherd
(NMFS); Dirk Koopmans (USGS); Regina CampbellMalone, Mary Carman, Betsy Gladfelter, Stefan
Sievert, and Oliver Zafiriou (WHOI); Pat Harcourt
(WBNERR); Molly Kitchell (AmeriCorps); Beth
Schwarzman and Molly Cornell (community); Pat
Perry and Liese Siemann (WHSTEP)
Upper Cape Tech Joins WHSTEP
- Pat Harcourt
WHSTEP is pleased to announce the addition of
Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical School to our
partnership. Upper Cape Tech is a high school located
on a hill overlooking the Cape Cod Canal and Bourne
Bridge. The school, which serves students from
Bourne, Falmouth, Marion, Sandwich, and Wareham,
offers courses and practical training in fields such as
information technology, plumbing and heating, culinary
arts, and marine technology, as well as a standard
high school curriculum. Teachers at Upper Cape
Tech, including Chuck Lawrence, our newest WHSTEP
liaison, have won grant support for innovative
projects in renewable energy education.
Mini-Grant Recipients
- Liese Siemann
In the fall of 1993, WHSTEP awarded its first minigrants to teachers in Falmouth, Mashpee, and Bourne.
During its early years, the Mini-Grant Program was
funded through donations from area businesses and
the Dwight D. Eisenhower grants awarded to
Falmouth schools. The program is now funded
through the dues paid by member schools and
institutions, but the goal of the program has
remained the same. WHSTEP mini-grants provide
support for new and innovative science, math, and
technology projects in our member schools. Minigrant proposals are currently considered for funding
in November and April. During our last round of
funding, teachers and volunteers at three local
schools received grants.
We look forward to meeting the teachers and
administrators of Upper Cape Tech, and we will work
with them to plan a WHSTEP event at the school soon
so they can showcase their many programs related to
science, math. and technology, and their students’
impressive work!
Christy Castleberry, a preschool teacher at
Teaticket School, will be using mini-grant funds for a
project entitled “Life Cycles.” Her students will be
Answers to MCAS questions:
Grade 8 Science - C; Biology - A; Grade 6 Math - C
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WHSTEP Executive Committee
Welcomes New Member
WHSTEP ROV Personal ads
The WHSTEP Registry of Outreach Volunteers is a
resource to help teachers find a scientist who is
interested in presenting to a class, working with a
student, or helping design a professional development
program. Because the ROV has been lightly used,
WHSTEP wants to encourage teachers to connect
with the scientists to help enrich science teaching in
their classrooms. Although we’re not quite ready to
offer a “personals” column in the WHSTEP
newsletter, we may have to resort to ads such as
these if teachers don’t use the ROV more frequently!
Check out the ROV and make some great connections
for yourself and your class at
WHSTEP elected new Executive Committee member
Sarah Piwinski (SEA) at the WHSTEP General
Meeting in January. Welcome Sarah – we look
forward to your new insight and ideas.
The Executive Committee would also like to thank
retiring member Erik Zettler for his energy and
enthusiasm during his time on our board.
More MCAS
The last issue of the WHSTEP newsletter contained
sample questions from MCAS exams—math, biology
and chemistry. Here are more samples. (Answers
appear on page 3)
http://www.whoi.edu/ccod/rov.html
Scientists seeking teachers:
MCAS Grade 8 Science and
Technology/Engineering
Category: Earth and Space Science
When air near the ground is warmed by sunlight,
which of the following occurs?
A. The warm air radiates and becomes cool
again.
B. The warm air evaporates into the cooler air.
C. The warm air expands and rises, resulting in
convection.
D. The warm air loses its ability to hold water
and precipitates.
 Elegant geologist seeks outgoing, autonomous
individual to talk about what makes the earth move
under our feet. Kids (up to 25) OK. Likes rock and
the Stones. Find me at the WHSTEP ROV.
 Physical oceanographer whose research is
considered hot and salty seeks teacher with class for
discussion of current events. I can go with the flow
if you can! Meet me at the WHSTEP ROV.
Teachers seeking scientists:
 I am looking for someone to make a commitment
for life (science). I am friendly and knowledgeable.
Must like labs - I have five. I will look for you at the
WHSTEP ROV.
MCAS Grade 10 Biology
Cyanide is a powerful poison because it inhibits an
enzyme in mitochondria, preventing the transfer of
energy during one of the steps in cellular respiration.
This poison would directly affect the production of
which of the following molecules?
A.
ATP
B.
Glucose
C.
Oxygen
D.
RNA

Oh, let's name the species, the species, the species. Let's
name the species that live in the sea. There's porifera,
coelenterata, hydrozoa, scyphozoa, anthozoa, ctenophora,
bryozoas, three! Gastropoda, arthropoda, echinoderma, and
some fish like you and me.
- Mr. Ray in Finding Nemo
MCAS Grade 6 Math
(Students are not allowed to use a calculator.)
Which of the following is closest to the product of
298.7x10.1?
A.
300
B.
2,000
C.
3,000
D.
20,000
For general information about WHSTEP and
announcements about events related to science and math,
subscribe to the WHSTEP listserver at:
http://lists.mbl.edu/mailman/listinfo/whstep
To post a message, send an e-mail to
[email protected]
For all WHSTEP questions, send an e-mail to
[email protected]
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