“What are the differences between the wild-type and genetically modified Arabidopsis plants?” “How do the possible effects of the stressors compare with the data we’ve collected?”
These are some of the questions students enrolled in biotechnology classes at BRVGS asked themselves during the fall semester. Students conducted research under the tutelage of their BRVGS AP Biology teachers and Dr. David Lally from the Fralin Biotechnology Center at Virginia Tech. “This was pretty cool because I had never done an experiment that I already didn’t know the answer to,” said Emily Butterworth, a student at Madison County High School.
Data such as rosette width, bolt height, and reproductive yield was collected on wild and mutant experimental and control groups. Students conducted the experiments, collected data, and analyzed and published their findings. The culminating event was presentation of their work at a seven-county forum for peers, parents, educators, guests, and a panel of judges on November 22.
Upcoming Events for BRVGS
BRVGS students in 9th, 10th and 11th grades have a number of big events coming up in late November and early December. On November 20th, BRVGS 10th grade AP Biology students will present the results of their semester-long Arabidopsis experiments to scientists from Virgina Tech at the Best Western Zion Crossroads. BRVGS 9th grade history students will journey to Washington, D.C., to visit the National Cathedral and National Art Gallery on November 27th and 29th. Students in the BRVGS/UVa "Explorations in Engineering" course will present their "design and build" projects at UVa on December 14th, and BRVGS Computer Science classes from Louisa and Fluvanna will present their final exam projects at the Best Western Zion Crossroads on December 18th.
As always, parents, school officials and members of the community are invited to all BRVGS presentations. Please contact BRVGS Director Marc Carraway at mcarraway@brvgs.k12.va.us for more information.
BRVGS Students Participate in Tech Tour
Junior students in the Blue Ridge Virtual Governor's School took part in the Charlottesville Area Tech Tour on Thursday, October 18th. The Tech Tour began with an Engineering Challenge and orientation at Piedmont Va. Community College, then students boarded buses to visit technology-centeredt businesses and orgainzations in the Charlottesville area. Destinations for BRVGS students included online publishing companies Lexis Nexis and Silverchair, local music studios, the Music Resource Center, local laboratories and science companies, UVa facilities and Sperry Marine. Students heard first hand from company and organization representatives about career opportunities and necessary skills for the workplace. To see a slide show of some of our students participating in the Engineering Challenge and at Lexis Nexis and Silverchair, go to: Tech Tour Slideshow.
BRVGS Applications Now Available
The application for entry into Blue Ridge Virtual Governor's School for the 2013-14 school year is now available to students and parents at their local middle school Guidance Offices and online.
In order to download the application, click on the "admissions" tab on the bar at the top of this page, then on "application" in the dropdown menu. Although online applications will be available for electronic download, printed copies will still need to be submitted to local guidance officials.
BRVGS staff will present information regarding the BRVGS program at the following local schools at the time and on the date listed below. Informational meetings have already taken place in Goochland and Greene counties.
Locust Grove Middle School (Orange): Oct. 16th, 7:00 PM
Louisa County MS: Oct. 17th, 6:30 PM
William Wetsel MS (Madison): Oct. 18th, 6:30 PM
Nelson Co. MS: Oct. 23rd, 6:30 PM
Fluvanna Co. High School: Oct. 31st, 7:00 PM
Please contact BRVGS Director Marc Carraway at mcarraway@brvgs.k12.va.us or by phone at 434-989-3972 for questions regarding the application process.
Madison Biology Students Investigate Nanotechnology
The BRVGS AP Biology students of Madison County High School got some firsthand experience with nanotechnology on September 4th, when Dr. Cassandra Fraser, Professor of Chemistry and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Virginia, brought information and examples of nanotechnology to their classroom. The nanoparticles that Dr. Fraser and her team are working with have light-emitting properties that make for possible detection of certain cancers. In addition, the unusual "force-responsive" and "self-erasing" properties of the luminescent dyes used with the bio-compatible nanoparticles make them a unique new "renewable" medium for art. Dr. Fraser provided information on the chemical and physical properties of the particles, and then moved students into the lab for some hands-on demonstration. You can see more photos of Dr. Fraser's demonstration by clicking on "Nanotechnology in Madison."