Science Students Display Expertise at CTR Symposium

Four student scholars ruled the podium for an evening of enlightening presentations on nuclear energy, the Human Genome Project, food and cancer, and altered states of consciousness. For this culminating project in Current Topics and Research in Science and Technology, seniors chose their own issues to explore deeply.

Their teacher, head of the Science Department Leah Cataldo, underscores the clear benefits of this project. “They have the opportunity to focus on topics outside the realm of a typical textbook, and they become the experts.”

The students impressively displayed that expertise in 15-to-20-minute PowerPoint lectures delivered before family members, faculty, and other students. All spoke articulately and with the confidence that comes from the command of a topic and facility with its terminology. Then, like poised pros, they fielded questions from the engaged audience.

Caitlin Danehy ’12 began with an explanation of the brain’s chemistry in her presentation on “The Science Behind Altered States of Consciousness,” in which she explored the salutary physiological and behavioral effects of Transcendental Meditation and listening to recordings of binaural beats. 

In “Revolutionary Success or Complete Failure? The Human Genome Project,” Sam Langer ’12 outlined the vast promise felt in the scientific fields at the outset of this mission to identify the 25,000 genes in human DNA, and then he assessed the relatively disappointing results. “We haven’t uncovered as many links, as promised, between specific genes and diseases,” Sam explained, “but some relationships have been identified, and there’s been an explosion of research about DNA as a result of this project.”

Scott Lehman ’12 studied “Cancer, Inflammation, and Processed Foods” to find out how our choice of foods might trigger an internal domino effect leading to cancer. Touching on many hot topics in today’s nutrition studies—Omega-3 and Omega-6 essential fatty acids, trans fats, obesity, organic foods—Scott included the revelatory detail that turmeric, a spice prevalent in Indian dishes, has been linked with lower cancer rates.

Interested in the world’s growing energy consumption and in environmental concerns, Libby Zhang ’12 addressed “The Future of Nuclear Energy” by laying out the argument supporting a new generation of safer, “greener” nuclear reactors in development now. “There are always two sides of an argument,” she admitted, “and I’m showing the . . . uh . . . good side.” Her unabashed stance, earned through her well-considered research, won approving laughter from the audience.

That audience interaction provided Caitlin with an additional sense of accomplishment. “Giving the presentation made me feel ready for college,” she says. “It felt like a grand finale of my four years at BB&N.”  

Above photo, from left: Sam Langer, Caitlin Danehy, Libby Zhang, and Scott Lehman, all Class of 2012.