Students take science class on a bus

NORTH CANAAN — It was a little strange: Kids are supposed to take the bus to school, not board it once they get there. And when they did so last week, it was to participate in a science class.

Connecticut’s BioBus, a 40-foot-long rolling biology lab, was parked for two days at North Canaan Elementary School, April 22 and 23. They were two gorgeous, summer-like days, but the students didn’t seem to mind crowding into the air-conditioned bus.

A narrow aisle separates rows of experiment stations along either side.  Amid the jostling for position, students found themselves coaching each other in their quest to diagnose a mystery patient.

Staff scientists Kerry Donahue and Julie Potter led students through an experiment called “The Mystery of the Crooked Cell.�

Using real hemoglobin and a process called gel electrophoresis, they separated cell protein and determined whether or not their “patient� had sickle cell anemia or was a carrier of the genetic disorder.

The science bus, which travels to schools around the state, is funded by state grants and CURE (Connecticut United for Research Excellence).  CURE is a corporation of more than 100 companies in and out of Connecticut. It includes the five major pharmaceutical companies with headquarters here, as well as biotechnical and bioscience companies.

Shortly after the BioBus hit the road in 2001, it found its way to North Canaan. Science teacher Jennifer Bergin had also arrived that school year, and so was able to easily recall how long it’s been.

“When they were here last, I signed up for them to come back. This is how long it’s taken,� she said, though not ungratefully.

It’s simply an incredibly popular learning tool that sparks student interest.

The BioBus has visited more than 300 schools to date. During the summer, its staff writes curriculum and conducts free workshops for teachers. More than 600 teachers have participated.

What wasn’t there seven years ago were the SMART Board screens. On the fold-down interactive computer screens that hang over each station, instructors diagram the experiments.  NCES students might have been most impressed by the BioBus, but it’s the SMART Boards that have become a technological staple in schools.

A practical application of the BioBus extends to the future of the students it reaches. There are currently more than 17,000 jobs in Connecticut in the bioscience industry. It’s one career area that must fall well within the ranks of “recession-proof� careers.

When asked how one gets such a unique job as a “bus scientist,� Donahue gave a very honest answer.

“You get a degree in molecular biology but don’t know what you want to do for a career. But it’s worked out great. I love what I do. There’s no other job like it.�