STEM Division News

• MassBay Honors its 19th Goldwater Scholar - Carolyn Lanzkron
  
  Read Carolyn's story >>
  
  Click image below to view event photo slideshow  >>
  
  

  
  
  

  
  

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• Video from the PBS NOVA Series - The Secret Life of Scientists:
  
  

  In the PBS NOVA series The Secret Life of Scientists, MassBay Professor Bruce Jackson answers 10 Question. Watch this video from the PBS NOVA series The Secret Life of Scientists>>  10 Questions for Bruce

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  30 Seconds of Science with Professor Bruce Jackson. Watch this PBS NOVA video from The Secret LIfe of Scientists series (select 30 Second Science: Bruce Jackson on the right after clicking the link below) >> 30 Second Science: Bruce Jackson

  
  

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  The PBS NOVA series The Secret Life of Scientists spotlights MassBay Professor Bruce Jackson - using detective work in the lab and under water to trace people's roots. Watch this video from the PBS NOVA series The Secret Life of Scientists (select A DNA Mystery on the right after clicking the link below) >>  A DNA Mystery

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  Bruce Jackson is a busy scientist. He studies DNA, and uses it to trace the ancestry of African Americans. He scuba dives. He empowers his students at MassBay Community College to live up to their full potential. Can you guess DNA Scientist Bruce Jackson's secret life? Watch this PBS NOVA video from The Secret Life of Scientists series Cue the Jaws Soundtrack

  
  

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  Opportunities, posted by Tom Miller on December 6, 2012 - A Profile of Dr. Bruce Jackson Read this PBS NOVA article from The Secret Life of Scientists series >> Opportunities

  
  

  * The Secret Life of Scientists is an Emmy-nominated web-series from the acclaimed PBS series, NOVA. “Secret Life” profiles today’s leading scientists…and shows what they’re like when the lab coats come off – like a biochemist who competed for Miss America and a microbiologist who’s a professional wrestler. By combining science/engineering content with questions like "Could you beat Bill Nye in an arm wrestling match?" the series engages viewers in an intimate, humorous way. Follow Secret Life on Facebook and Twitter for all of the latest updates.

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• Using MassBay facilities in a collaboration with University of Massachusetts at Lowell, professor Sudad Saman presented a poster entitled “Tau secretions of human neuroblastoma cells occurs via the release of exosomes” in February in Taos, New Mexico at the Keystone Symposia 2011- Neurodegenerative Diseases: The Molecular and Cellular Basis for Neurodegeneration. Exosome-associated tau is secreted in tauopathy models and is selectively phosphorylated in cerebrospinal fluid in early Alzheimer disease.
• Dr. Bruce A. Jackson, professor and coordinator of the Biotechnology Program, was awarded the prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring in January 2011, which recognizes the crucial role that mentoring plays in the academic and personal development of students studying science or engineering—particularly those who belong to groups that are underrepresented in those fields. By offering their expertise and encouragement, mentors help prepare the next generation of scientists and engineers while ensuring that tomorrow’s innovators reflect the full diversity of the United States.
• A Mechanical Engineering Laboratory will be established at the Wellesley Hills campus.
• A transfer program is being developed with Northeastern University.
• A new computer science laboratory technician will be hired.
• Professor Bonnie Stevenson has been elected to be the Chair of the Sciences Department
• Dr. Sarmad Saman and Professor Sudad Saman published an article this year in Life Sciences and Medical Research (LSMR 18) on their work with bacteria in snow-covered soil.
• Two new initiatives are being put into place by faculty in the Biotechnology Program: Preparation Emerging Technologies (PET) Program, a collaboration with science faculty of local secondary schools which will provide professional development opportunities for teachers, raise up secondary school applicants who possess strong, interdisciplinary research skills for Mass Bay’s technology programs, create a virtual community of community college and secondary school science faculty so that curriculum and instructional ideas can be discussed, developed, and shared, and create a model for the integration of secondary school science and technology curriculums with those of community colleges. Virtual Research Opportunities On Montserrat (VROOM) will allow secondary school students to participate in scientific research done on the Caribbean island of Montserrat by members of the Marine Biotechnology Program via online discussions, blogging, and video conferencing.
• New courses in DNA methods in criminology will be implemented within a year. A DNA Law Certificate program has been proposed as well.
• Life Sciences student Yvonne Visnick and STEM Division Dean Dr. Sarmad Saman presented at a meeting of a branch of the American Society for Microbiology in Albany, NY in November.  Their research focused on biodiversity at different ocean depths, in which they postulated to have found three new species of marine bacteria. They have also presented research on the bacterial biodiversity of Lassen Volcanic National Park, California, where they identified several new species and genera of bacteria. They will present research in February of 2011 in Washington D.C. at the American Society for Microbiology on neurotoxins produced by several species of bacteria.
• The Math Club was approved by the Student Government Association in late October. It already has over 40 members who are ready to have fun, gather to discuss math related topics such as gambling and sports, share experiences and ideas, promote math, and help MassBay students.