Thursday, February 6, 1997
Area students find out about medical science
By BRIAN BETHEL / Staff Writer
Area high school students got a chance to see some superlative
science Wednesday thanks to McMurry University and the Region
XIV Education Service Center.
Students viewed videotaped recordings of the acclaimed Howard
Hughes Medical Institute's lectures on science and medicine.
While the inner workings of immunology - the topic of the most
recent series - may seem a bit on the esoteric side, the lectures
provide good, solid science for mostly advanced students, said
Dr. Thomas Benoit, a McMurry microbiology professor.
"These people are top-notch scientists who are really
at the cutting edge of medical technology," Benoitt said.
"These conferences not only give students a great chance
to learn about latest innovations, their teachers get the chance
to learn, too."
Students from Sweetwater, DeLeon, Baird, and Roscoe piled into
a lectureship hall in the Region XIV center to hear the research
of Dr. John Kappler and Dr. Philippa Marrack, two widely recognized
researchers in the field of immunology, Benoit said.
Students learned the differences between and characteristics
of B and T cells, which either form or have specific antibodies.
The presentation also explained how each cell detects and fights
invaders.
Wednesday's lectures represented the second time the program
has been provided to area students.
"I like it because it gives me and my students some of
the latest (biology-related) information," said Baird biology
instructor Marsha Roan. "The topics this year were just at
the right level for students, and I thought they were well presented."
Most of the students interviewed after the presentation said
they'd enjoyed the experience.
"It's been different from just sitting in class,"
said DeLeon student Nathan Lesley. "We've all learned a lot
about how the immune system works - I know a lot more about it
than when I came."
And that's exactly the point, said McMurry biochemist Charlene
Haskin.
"We're increasing what (Dr. Benoit) likes to call 'scientific
literacy,' " Haskin said. "And these lectures are really
good for students because they introduce them to some exciting
things that are happening in science. We hope that will foster
an interest that will stay with some of them."
A continuation of the four-part lecture series will be given
March 5, when a different set of schools is expected to attend.
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Abilene Reporter-News / Texnews / E.W. Scripps Publications
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