GLENWOOD LANDING STEAM ENRICHMENT EVENT
The BioBus Stops By Glenwood Landing School
Students had a special treat when the BioBus rolled into the parking lot of Glenwood Landing School. The BioBus is a high-tech science lab on wheels filled with research-grade equipment! As students boarded the bus, they were told that they were “scientists” who were able to immediately explore the microscopic ecosystem around them in an inquiry-based setting that is supervised by masters and Ph.D. level biologists.
With state-of-the-art fluorescence stereo zoom microscopes and digital cameras, Glenwood Landing students were excited to explore first-hand the internal workings of a micro-crustacean organism called a Daphnia, more commonly known as a water flea. In addition, the young Glenwood scientists were able to ask many questions and learn about its physical and behavioral characteristics.
The BioBus has been on the road since 2008 visiting more than 500 schools in Manhattan and New York communities reaching approximately 60,000 students in grades K-12 a year! Ben Dubin-Thaler, PhD Founder and Executive Director said, “At all schools, we see that kids are excited about science, and most want to do more, both on the BioBus at their school and in our in-depth BioBase classes. Our highly trained research scientists (8 Masters and PhD level researchers) meet the students where they are, whether they’re using a microscope for the first time or whether they’re doing their own research project. Through this work, the BioBus has made a marked difference in the lives of students, parents, and educators -- bringing enthusiasm for discovery, heightened academic engagement, and increased interest in STEM career paths. For more information on the BioBus, please visit www.biobus.org.
Thank you to the Glenwood Landing SCA for sponsoring this wonderful hands-on educational experience for the students at GWL.
Article and photos by Shelly Newman