Science and Mathematics Education Commons^™

2018 Imsaloquium, Student Investigation Showcase, Illinois Mathematics And Science Academy

IMSAloquium Event Booklets

"This is IMSA's 31st year of leading in educational innovation and the 30th year of the Student Inquiry and Research Program (SIR)! ... These studies have all happened during the past year in a variety of laboratories, real or virtual, on and off campus. Students were asked to not only learn a great deal about complex topics, but to contribute to them in meaningful ways. The presentations you hear today reflect the various stages of their work on a myriad of projects."

Impact Report 2018: Equity And Excellence, Illinois Mathematics And Science Academy

Impact Reports

For over 30 years, the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA) has pioneered the future of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education through its two legislative charges: 1) to provide a uniquely challenging education for students talented in the areas of mathematics and science; and 2) to stimulate further excellence for all Illinois schools in mathematics and science. IMSA champions these goals through:

• Residential education: Helping talented 10th-12th graders representing over 93% of Illinois counties to date reach their fullest potential.
• Student and educator outreach: Leading the charge to continually innovate K-12 STEM education, creating a strong and diverse …

2017 Imsaloquium, Student Investigation Showcase, Illinois Mathematics And Science Academy

IMSAloquium Event Booklets

"This is IMSA's 30th year of leading in educational innovation and the 29th year of the Student Inquiry and Research Program (SIR)! Welcome to another year of profound investigation and discovery! In these pages, you will find exciting abstracts on a variety of fantastic studies done by IMSA's great minds."

Impact Report 2017: Imsa30, The Promise And Power Of Imsa, Illinois Mathematics And Science Academy

Impact Reports

The State of Illinois launched the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA), which is recognized as the world's leading teaching and learning lab for imagination and inquiry, in collaboration with business, education, and science leaders. For 30 years, IMSA has pioneered the future of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education through its two legislative charges: 1) to provide a uniquely challenging education for students talented in the areas of mathematics and science and 2) to stimulate further excellence for all Illinois schools in mathematics and science. IMSA champions these goals through:

New STEM teaching models: leading the charge to …

1. Types Of Alignment: Presentations & Demos Assignment, Sarah O'Leary-Driscoll

Sequence Alignments

Pairwise Alignment: DNA

Pairwise Alignment: Protein

Multiple Sequence Alignment: DNA

Multiple Sequence Alignment: Protein

2016 Imsaloquium, Student Investigation Showcase, Illinois Mathematics And Science Academy

IMSAloquium Event Booklets

"Welcome to the twenty-eighth year of the Student Inquiry and Research Program (SIR)! This is a program that is as old as IMSA. The SIR program represents our unending dedication to enabling our students to learn what it is to be an innovator and to make contributions to what is known on Earth."

3: "The Current Extinction: Defaunation & Ecosystem Disruption", Sarah O'Leary-Driscoll, Crystal Randall

Ecosystem Disruption & Climate Change

Information taken from: Dirzo, R. et al (2014). Defaunation in the Anthropocene. Science, 345(401).

Scientists estimate, conservatively, that there are 5 to 9 million different animal species on the planet. But that number is continually changing, and unfortunately, dropping, as we are likely losing 11,000- 58,000 species annually, and evidence suggests that on average, there has been a decline of about 28% in terms of numbers of individuals within a species over the last four decades. Both of these statistics are vitally important. The critical nature of the first is perhaps more obvious, as total loss of a species is …

2a: "Illinois Carbon Dioxide Emissions Activity", Sarah O'Leary-Driscoll, Crystal Randall

Ecosystem Disruption & Climate Change

Your goal for this activity is to compare the different sources of carbon dioxide emissions, stemming from the consumption of fossil fuels, in Illinois. To do this you will be working with data spanning from 1980 to 2012.

The Greenhouse Effect: Does The Concentration Of Carbon Dioxide Affect The Air Temperature In A Closed Environment?, Climate Science Investigations - Nasa

Ecosystem Disruption & Climate Change

The purpose of this lesson is to investigate the effect of carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration on air temperature in a closed environment.

1. "Investigating The Impact Of Changes In Carbon Dioxide Concentration On Ecosystems", Sarah O'Leary-Driscoll, Crystal Randall

Ecosystem Disruption & Climate Change

Question: Does the concentration of carbon dioxide affect air temperature in a closed environment?

Big Ideas “Ted” Talk Session: Inspiring Innovation And Inquiry, Lawrence Bergie, Britta W. Mckenna

Publications & Research

The day will begin with six stories from innovative school districts, told in a short, engaging, “TED” talk format. After each story, David Chan and Henry Thiele will lead a time of reflection, sharing ideas, thoughts and connections. School professionals will share their stories about themes including: Inspiring Innovation and Inquiry.

Moving Education In2 The Future: Creating The Next Generation Of Innovators, Lawrence Bergie, Britta W. Mckenna

Publications & Research

What started as planning for the next generation of inquiry-based learning led to an entirely new center for innovation and entrepreneurship! Hear how this innovative idea moved to the design of a physical innovation hub and see how IMSA has transformed a former computer lab IN2 a working prototype of their future space.

Dive into the many aspects of creating innovation spaces: design process, STEM foundation and entrepreneurship cornerstone, Makerspace development through a student leadership and service initiative, collaboration potential with community partners and local/regional business entities, student inquiry and research potential and the ability to showcase area emerging technology …

Discussion Questions: Genome Mining, Sarah O'Leary-Driscoll

Sequencing & Genome Mining

No abstract provided.

Project Guidelines, Sarah O'Leary-Driscoll

Research Project

No abstract provided.

Pt. 1: Research Question & Background, Sarah O'Leary-Driscoll

Research Project

No abstract provided.

Dna Timeline And Poster Project, Sarah O'Leary-Driscoll

Genomics: Past & Future

The DNA timeline goes through many of the major discoveries that have driven our understanding of genetics since Mendel. Pick two scientists and create a PowerPoint slide poster (to be printed out on regular printer sized paper) that covers the following:

Database/Resource Acronyms, Sarah O'Leary-Driscoll

Course Information

No abstract provided.

Readings On Current Biology: Bibliography, Imsa Biology Team

Nature of Science

No abstract provided.

What Is Bioinformatics?, Sarah O'Leary-Driscoll

Course Information

Bioinformatics has evolved into a full-fledged multidisciplinary subject that integrates developments in information and computer technology as applied to Biotechnology and Biological Sciences. Bioinformatics uses computer software tools for database creation, data management, data warehousing, data mining and global communication networking. Bioinformatics is the recording, annotation, storage, analysis, and searching/retrieval of nucleic acid sequence (genes and RNAs), protein sequence and structural information. This includes databases of the sequences and structural information as well methods to access, search, visualize and retrieve the information. Bioinformatics concern the creation and maintenance of databases of biological information whereby researchers can both access existing information …

Science & Spaghetti Monsters: Understanding The Nature Of Scientific Knowledge & Research, Sarah O'Leary-Driscoll

Nature of Science

What is science?

When students are asked to define science, many of them define science as “a body of knowledge gained by performing experiments.”

A more appropriate definition, however, is that “Science is … a process of inquiry aimed at building a testable body of knowledge open to rejection or confirmation” (Shermer, 2005).

There are three important points that this definition makes:

Glossary Of Bioinformatics Terms, National Human Genome Research Institute

Course Information

No abstract provided.

Comprehensive Course Syllabus, Sarah O'Leary-Driscoll

Course Information

The bioinformatics seminar is focused on developing an understanding of the principles behind genomic analyses, developing skills using the different available bioinformatics programs, and becoming aware of the past developments and current research avenues that are benefited by these types of analyses.

Obtaining Genomic Sequence Practice, Sarah O'Leary-Driscoll

Introduction to NCBI

No abstract provided.

3: Genomics: Past & Future Bibliography, Sarah O'Leary-Driscoll

Genomics: Past & Future

No abstract provided.

Future Of Genomics: Presentations, Sarah O'Leary-Driscoll

Genomics: Past & Future

In his testimony to a House of Representatives sub-committee on health, director of the National Human Genome Research Institute, Francis S. Collins, said that the future of genomics had three main focal points:

"Genomics to Biology: The human genome sequence provides foundational information that now will allow development of a comprehensive catalog of all of the genome's components, determination of the function of all human genes, and deciphering of how genes and proteins work together in pathways and networks.

Genomics to Health: Completion of the human genome sequence offers a unique opportunity to understand the role of genetic factors in …

Primer Design Activity, Sarah O'Leary-Driscoll

Primer Design

No abstract provided.

Pt. 2: Presentation / Paper Guidelines, Sarah O'Leary-Driscoll

Research Project

The presentations for your project should follow the same format that the paper would, but in a much more abbreviated form, aim for 5-7 minutes.

2: Sequence Alignment Practice Activity, Sarah O'Leary-Driscoll

Sequence Alignments

Now that you have learned how to do the four basic sequence alignments (Pairwise and Multiple for both nucleotide and protein sequences) select a gene/protein, it may be one that you've used before, and run each of these alignments.

Alignment Information, Sarah O'Leary-Driscoll

Sequence Alignments

Pairwise DNA alignment is frequently used to identify similar regions that will show how two sequences have functional or structural similarities. It can also be used to show how exons and introns change between different sequences and whether they have an effect on the final structure of the RNA after the DNA is processed within a cell.

Alignment Outline, Sarah O'Leary-Driscoll

Sequence Alignments

No abstract provided.