Biology

JULY 9-13, 2012

Spectrophotometry Workshop for Science Teachers -

• Available to biology, chemistry, environmental science, and physics teachers. Although applications from teams (2 participants from the same school) will be given preference,  we do take individual applications from smaller schools.
• No previous experience using a spectrophotometer is required.
• All participants in this workshop will receive their own spectrophotometers and supplies to be taken back to their schools.

Workshop Description

Many kinds of molecules interact with or absorb specific types of radiant energy in a predictable fashion. When white light strikes an object, the color the human eye perceives is determined by the wavelengths of light absorbed and the remaining wavelengths(s) that are reflected or transmitted. An object that appears red absorbs wavelengths of all colors but red. The red wavelength of light is what reflects back to the eye. A spectrophotometer can electronically quantify the amount and kinds of light that are absorbed by molecules in solution and thus may be used for a wide variety of applications.
Participants will spend the week performing experiments using a spectrophotometer that may be used in high school level biology, chemistry, physics, and environmental studies class. A wide range of experiments will be performed, including looking at the properties of light, identifying food dyes, enzyme kinetics, determining sugar and protein content of foods, kinetics of dye fading, water quality tests, standard curves, bacterial growth, and the absorption spectra of plant pigments.

Workshops for Biology Teacher-Student Teams

• Available to teams of one high school biology teacher and one or two promising biology students who will be juniors or seniors in the fall.
• Students will see and do the kinds of experiments they could expect to perform regularly as students in a college biology program.
• Rooms and meals will be provided for both teacher and student. Housing will be in a residence hall or house, and a proctor will be provided for students; we strongly encourage students to live on campus.

HHMI Summer Workshop Application Form 

For more information on any of the summer workshops please feel free to contact:

To apply please submit:

1. The application form and statement of your interest in the program.
2. A letter of support from a school administrator.