Genzyme Scientists Conduct Experiments With Fuller Sixth Graders

Four Genzyme scientists went to Fuller Middle School in Framingham, just before Thanksgiving, to teach students about cartilage repair and arthroscopy.

They also guided students through an experiment and met with students for a Q&A session.

Three sixth grade science classrooms at Fuller Middle School students had this "amazing opportunity" to participate in the first of six Genzyme Science Kids Program events scheduled," said sixth grade teacher Joanne Rogan, who coordinated the program for the Framingham middle school.

Many scientists from Framingham’s Genzyme Science Center have volunteered their time for the Genzyme Science Kids Program since 2009, said Rogan.

The four scientists who volunteered for the latest event were Nance Moran, Markryan Dwyer, Olga Syrkina, and Jennifer Sullivan. Moran, Sullivan and Dwyer also coordinate the program at Genzyme.

Students donned in their lab coats, goggles and rubber gloves worked with the Genzyme scientists to perform a hydrogel experiment. The experiment involved students using mixing syringes to dispense different combinations of monomer and initiator onto a defect well to determine the relationship between gel time and the amount of initiator. The experiment was based upon real experiments done at Genzyme. 

Student, Mia Useloff, stated in her post-field trip reflection, “I think that the Genzyme Science Kids program is a good idea because it is interesting, amazing, and it makes you think."

“Nance helped Andrea, Charlotte, and me feel like real scientists – it’s AWESOME to feel like that," said sixth grade student Katie Ellsworth.

Students also enjoyed talking to the scientists in small groups to learn more about the work that they do at Genzyme and their career path to become a scientist.

Students prepared for a week prior to the Genzyme Science Kids Program event to learn the scientific vocabulary by using models, doing a mock arthroscopic surgery following an actual surgical protocol, and a classification activity. They 
also researched some of Genzyme’s focus diseases, said Rogan.

The Genzyme Science Kids Program takes place monthly from November to April, to accommodate all of the sixth grade students at Fuller. The next experiment will focus on DNA transformation.