- "I learned more in one week than in a year of AP biology."
- "It is neat to learn about biotech in class, but to come here and do it makes TONS more sense."
- "I would jump at the chance to do it again."
That's what a few of last year's students had to say about HutchLab, an intensive summer science workshop offered by Seattle's Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.
Now in its second year, HutchLab will be offered in two one-week sessions: July 30 to Aug. 4 and Aug. 6 to 11. Each session, to be held at the Center's campus on South Lake Union, will accommodate 20 students from the Puget Sound region.
Students will learn a variety of biomedical research approaches used to explore and understand genetic diseases, from gene therapy to genetic fingerprinting. The theme of this summer's program is genetic diseases of the blood. On the final day of the program, the students will share what they have learned using posters or computer-based presentations.
The aim of HutchLab is to build strong problem-solving and critical-thinking skills through various scientific exercises designed to tackle challenging, real-world problems based on themes relevant to everyday life.
"Even if they don't become scientists, doing science helps develop valuable logical, troubleshooting and organizational skills useful in many areas of life," says Dave Masterman, Ph.D., HutchLab teacher-in-residence.
The workshop was created to address the many requests from science students who hope to visit and work on research projects at the Hutchinson Center.
HutchLab participants benefit from a student-teacher ratio of four to one. They work individually and in teams under the supervision of HutchLab staff scientists and also interact with many Center scientists and staff.
What began as a Hutchinson Center-funded pilot project is now supported by a three-year, $750,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health. HutchLab is an offshoot of the Center's Science Education Partnership, an award-winning statewide mentorship program for science teachers established in 1991.
Media please note: Reporters and photographers are welcome to visit HutchLab. To arrange a visit, please contact Kristen Woodward, (206) 667-5095.
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The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center is an independent, nonprofit research institution dedicated to the development and advancement of biomedical technology to eliminate cancer and other potentially fatal diseases. Recognized internationally for its pioneering work in bone-marrow transplantation, the Center's four scientific divisions collaborate to form a unique environment for conducting basic and applied science. One of 35 National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers in the nation, it is the only one in the Northwest. For more information, visit the Center's Web site at <www.fhcrc.org>
2000 HutchLab Participants
Session I (July 30 to Aug. 4)
(Students will enter these grades in the fall)
Bellevue
Bryan Chen 12th grade Newport High
Tina Lin 12th grade Sammamish High
Bothell
Suzanne Tay 11th grade Holy Names Academy
Graham
Dawn Paulson 11th grade Bethel High
Issaquah
Thomas Deem 12th grade Eastlake High
Juanita
Victoria Miles 12th grade Juanita High
Mercer Island
Katrina Spaunhurst 11th grade Mercer Island High
Frederique Vallieres 11th grade Mercer Island High
Redmond
Stefany Brand 12th grade Eastlake High
Nichole Garzia 12th grade Redmond High
Tara Rooney 12th grade Eastlake High
Debbie Soon 11th grade Redmond High
Seattle
Anne Chin 12th grade Holy Names Academy
Matthew Kuo 11th grade Garfield High
Tess Lang 12th grade Shorecrest High
Sandy Letzing 11th grade Franklin High
Michael Look 12th grade Franklin High
Tam Nguyen 11th grade West Seattle High
Shoreline
Joseph Nelson 11th grade Shorecrest High
Woodinville
Emily Glynn 11th grade Inglemoor High
Session II (Aug. 6 to 11)
(Students will enter these grades in the fall)
Auburn
Jessica Fairbanks 12th grade Auburn Riverside High
Bellingham
Jakob Perry 11th grade Squalicum High
Federal Way
Brandon Smith 12th grade Decatur High
Katie Tyrell 12th grade Decatur High
Kent
Dustin Foster 12th grade Kentwood High
Laura Haynes 12th grade Kentridge High
Kirkland
Kelsey Anderson 11th grade Lake Washington High
Michelle Kay 11th grade Inglemoor High
Alyssa Wu 12th grade Lake Washington High
Lakewood
Emily Hickey 12th grade Bellarmine Prep
Mercer Island
Laura Pollan 11th grade Mercer Island High
Shoreline
Clara Rhieu 12th grade Shorewood High
Redmond
Abhi Banerjee 12th grade Redmond High
Laura Ditt 11th grade Lake Washington High
Sarah Milroy 12th grade Eastlake High
Renton
Tabetha Boruck 12th grade Lindbergh High
Sammamish
Amanda Anderson 12th grade Eastlake High
Seattle
Yen Duong 11th grade Shorecrest High
Brianne Lum 11th grade Renton High
Jia Yu 12th grade Franklin High