On December 6, 2007, Manchester Community College (MCC) opened its doors to approximately 150 high school students and teachers as part of the Biotechnology course sponsored by Connecticut Career Choices (CCC) and the Center for 21st Century Skills @ EDUCATION CONNECTION. Hamden HS, Wilbur Cross HS (New Haven), and Pathways to Technology (Hartford) were in attendance along with Great Paths School (Manchester) and MCC undergraduates. Students were greeted by Susan Quatrella (Biotechnology Course Coordinator), MCC’s Eli Arzola (speaking to MCC’s process of admission), and Jon Morris (MCC professor, Dept. of Mathematics, Science, and Health Careers). Dan Cogan-Drew from Education Connection gave students a brief overview of Scratch: free, open-source software that may be helpful as Biotechnology students create their projects for presentation at the CT Innovation Expo, May 9-10, 2008.
Students then viewed a live Web cast by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute along with thousands of high school and college students from across the country. The lecture, “AIDS: The Evolution of an Epidemic,” was delivered in front of a participating audience of Washington, DC students. Dr. Bisola Ojikutu and Dr. Bruce Walker shared their expertise on a disease that has troubled doctors, scientists, and the general public for almost 30 years.
During a lunch break, students discussed the fact that the number of AIDS cases continues to grow. 25 million people have died since the first five reported cases in 1981, with 2.1 million people dying during 2007 alone. A majority of cases are currently concentrated in South Africa, although AIDS remains a worldwide concern. The serious discussions prompted by the Web cast may be the impetus that inspires some of our young adults to enter the field of medical research as they begin choosing colleges and careers. Students will participate in a discussion forum in the Moodle environment as a post-activity.