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May 2005, Vol. 1, No. 2| Back to Index
Teachers Discover the Microbial World at MBL Workshop
The Josephine Bay Paul Center hosted a three-day enhancement workshop in March for 24 high school teachers, including several from Cape Cod. Using Wolbachia—a parasitic bacteria that live within insects—as a model, workshop participants learned how microorganisms and their hosts interact. The workshop was designed to provide teaching tools and bring new life to science classes for high school teachers and undergraduate lecturers in the biological sciences.
Led by faculty from across the U.S., including Bay Paul Center scientists Michele Bahr, Seth Bordenstein, and Jennifer Wernegreen, teachers conducted hands-on laboratory exercises on microbes, symbiosis, insect biology, and evolution. “The workshop was a fantastic success,” says Bordenstein. “The teachers were engaged, inquisitive, and enthused to bring these new lesson plans and labs back to their students. It is important that we continue the MBL’s long-standing tradition of engaging the local education community in a clear and vibrant manner. We hope this workshop will form enduring ties for many years to come.”
Lesson plans emphasized activities that can be used easily and inexpensively in the classroom to teach basic biological principles and covered insect collection and biodiversity, the bacteria that live within insects, DNA extraction, and simple molecular biology and evolutionary analysis skills.
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Activities Committee
Do you enjoy walking at lunch? Do you have a passion for crafts or cooking? There may be an MBL Activities Committee event designed just for you. The MBL recently organized the new community-wide committee to encourage and promote activities for MBL staff. “There are so many interesting and talented people at the MBL,” says Susan Goux, Director of Human Resources. “But the campus is so spread out that it isn’t always easy to meet other members of the community. Some employees would like to find others who share their outside interests and the Activities Committee works to give them that opportunity.” The committee is currently organizing three activities:
- The MBL Walking Club has published maps of scenic walks around Woods Hole. Anyone in the MBL community is welcome to meet at the sundial daily at noon to join others in a walk of their choice. While there is no leader of the Club, you can contact Andrea Early (Communications), aearly@mbl.edu, or Becky Mountford (IT), becky@mbl.edu, for further information.
- The MBL Artisan’s Group is interested in crafts of all types. The group has focused on needlework to date, but hopes to pursue jewelry making and basketry in the future. The Artisan’s Group is also a resource for novices as well as those looking for advice in order to finish a project. Interested? Contact Kristine Johnson (Development), kjohnson@mbl.edu, for more information.
- Do you like food? The Activities Committee is arranging Potluck Lunches on a periodic basis. If you would like more information, contact Katherine Hashizume (Bay Paul Center), khashizume@mbl.edu.
For announcements of upcoming events and copies of walking maps, visit the “MBL Happenings” section of the Staff Toolbox under Human Resources on the MBL website.
The Committee needs your thoughts and ideas! If you would like to organize an activity or have a suggestion for an activity you think would be fun to hold at the MBL, contact a member of the Activities Committee.
MBL Activities Committee:
Andrea Early (Communications)
Deb Grasso (Housing)
Grant Harris (Oldenbourg Lab)
Katherine Hashizume (Bay Paul Center)
Kelly Holzworth (ESC)
Carmen Houser (Human Resources)
Lisa Hunt (Purchasing)
Kristine Johnson (Development)
Homer Lane (Financial Services)
Beth Liles (Communications)
Brendan McCann (POM)
Becky Mountford (IT)
Nancy Roderick (Marine Resources)
Melanie Scanlan (Building Services)
Debbie Scanlon (ESC)
April Shiflett (Bay Paul Center)
Nancy Stafford (Library)
Justin Widener (Bay Paul Center)
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The New Collecting Net is an employee newsletter published by the Communications Office. Comments and suggestions are welcome. Call (508) 289-7423 or e-mail us at
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