Science Camp Introduces High School Students to Biomedical Research

• By Suzanna Cisneros
• August 1, 2017

The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) Office of Research held its first Science Camp July 11-14 at the Lubbock campus. The weeklong educational camp targeted rising high school sophomores and juniors from area high schools interested in science and research.

 

“The main goal is to instill a deeper appreciation of what science is all about, leading to an understanding that science is an interdisciplinary and cooperative endeavor,” said Pamela Frazier, senior director for the Office of Research and camp director.

 

The 15 campers in this inaugural venture were engaged in lectures, tours and demonstrations in an intensive hands-on format that allowed ample time for discussion to support and strengthen the students’ scientific knowledge and skills.

“The TTUHSC Office of Research designed and hosted the Science Camp with a goal of providing high school students with information about biomedical research in hopes that the students will be inspired to pursue careers in science or medicine,” Frazier said. “We wanted to create an exciting environment like no other which allowed the participants to learn and discover under the supervision of TTUHSC faculty and staff.”

 

Each TTUHSC faculty member offered interesting and intellectually stimulating presentations and activities filled with fun and learning. The participants also received information on safety and ethics related to biomedical research and toured various TTUHSC facilities including active research laboratories, the F. Marie Hall SimLife Center, the histology lab and the Laboratory Animal Resource Center.

The small size of the camp permitted campers to interact directly and informally with TTUHSC faculty who are engaged in a variety of biomedical research endeavors. These interactions, along with the lab shadowing, demonstration activities and informational presentations from the TTUHSC Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and the Schools of Nursing, Health Professions and Medicine provided campers with a real-world introduction to the varied areas in which biomedical research has an impact.

For more information about the Office of Research science camp, email pamela.frazier@ttuhsc.edu.