Biology Merit Exam

DATE: 3-25-03

CONTACT: Jerry Waldvogel, (864) 656-3825
E-mail-- mailto:waldvoj@clemson.edu


Barbara Speziale, (864) 656-1550
E-mail-- mailto:bjspz@clemson.edu


WRITER: Peter Kent, (864) 656-0937
E-mail-- mailto:peter.kent@clemsonews.clemson.edu


MILLION-PLUS GRANT BRINGS ASPIRING YOUNG SCIENTISTS
TO CLEMSON UNIVERSITY FOR ANNUAL BIOLOGY MERIT EXAM


CLEMSON -- Ready? Begin. Some 800 middle and high school
students from across the state will participate in the 23rd
Biology Merit Exam at Clemson University Friday, March 28.


The exam, created by Clemson biology faculty, is offered in
divisions for beginning, intermediate and advanced students.
Students are selected by their science teachers to take the
exam that recognizes and encourages young scientists.


This year, 200 students whose schools could not otherwise
offer them this experience are participating through an
award from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI). The
four-year $1.8 million grant was awarded to Clemson in 2002,
and funds the SC LIFE project to enhance the teaching of
biology in South Carolina middle and high schools. This is
Clemson's second Howard Hughes Medical Institute award. The
first provided $1.6 million from 1998-2002 to establish the
SC LIFE project and related activities.


The goal of this SC LIFE-sponsored event is to provide
students with the opportunity to participate in the Biology
Merit Exam and to introduce them to the Clemson campus. Many
of these students have never been on a college campus
before, and some have never visited the Upstate.


"This is an opportunity for students to get a taste of what
life is like on a college campus, and to perhaps help them
set their sights on a goal of higher education in the
sciences," said Jerry Waldvogel, associate professor of
biology instruction at Clemson and exam coordinator.


A portion of the HHMI award will fund transportation costs
and an overnight stay before the exam for students from
schools from distant counties. Without HHMI funding, these
students would be unable to participate in the Biology Merit
Exam.


After the exam, the students may compete in the Biology
Bowl, a "Jeopardy"-style competition to test their knowledge
and skill under pressure, or visit points of interest at the
university, including the Genomics Institute, the Campbell
Museum of Natural History, the electron microscopy
laboratory, the South Carolina Botanical Garden and the Bob
Campbell Geology Museum.


At a special seminar Thursday afternoon, participants in the
HHMI/SCLIFE portion of the Biology Merit Exam will be
introduced to various aspects of the college experience.
Representatives from the admissions office, scholarship
programs, the academic support center and pre-medical health
advising will talk with the students about getting into
college, being successful in the classroom and possible
science careers beyond college.


The HHMI Undergraduate Biological Sciences Education Program
awarded only 44 grants nationally, distributing $80 million
in 2002. Clemson was selected for the award because the
faculty proposed an innovative concept for engaging middle
school students in life sciences, by teaching them about the
world just outside their door, and a program for building
upon that initial engagement with student opportunities
throughout high school and into college.


Other activities funded by the HHMI award include sending
Clemson biology professors to teach summer courses at the
Governor's School for Science and Mathematics, bringing
outstanding high school students to Clemson to conduct
research, developing a middle school curriculum on the
natural history of South Carolina, and involving middle and
high school biology teachers in graduate courses and
independent research with life sciences faculty at Clemson
University.
END

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR MEDIA

Students, teachers and chaperones arrive at Clemson
University Thursday afternoon, March 27, for a special
seminar (2-4 p.m.) in Self Auditorium at the Strom Thurmond
Institute.


Students from the following schools will participate in the
2003 Biology Merit Exam and associated activities through
the HHMI award:

Participating Schools and Hometown
Carvers Bay HS - Hemingway
Garrett Academy - Charleston
Lee Central HS - Bishopville
Marlboro County HS - Bennettsville
McNair MS - Lake City
Myrtle Beach HS - Myrtle Beach
St. John's HS - John's Island
West Ashley HS - Charleston

The Merit Exam begins at 10:15 a.m. Friday in Tillman Hall
auditorium. Afterwards, students are free to tour the campus
or participate in the Biology Bowl competition in Vickery
Hall from 1:30-4 p.m.