Cougar Quest
One unique aspect of the BXRC Center in K-12 education has been efforts to mentor high school students directly in the research laboratory. A high school student conducting research in PI’s laboratory, Stuart Ipsen (Pullman High School), won first place at the National Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (held in Albuquerque, New Mexico). He also won the grand prize from NASA, and second place from the Air Force International Science and Engineering Fair (held in Fort Worth, Texas), and third place from the American Chemical Society. Rishi Hazra, a senior at Skyline High School in Sammamish WA has conducted 3-month summer research/training in the center. His research has obtained the Grand Championship at Central Sound Regional Science and Engineering Fair (CSRSEF), 1st place at Washington State Science and Engineering Fair (WSSEF), Norman E. Borlaug Excellence in Sustainability Award (WSSEF) and RICOH Sustainable Development Award (CSRSEF). During the summer, PI and graduate students and undergraduate students in the Center participate in “Cougar Quest”, a residential academic summer camp for students from throughout the Northwestern states. The camp is designed to meet the educational and social needs of young students entering grades 7 through 12, who are interested in being challenged and learning while having a good time. The BXC Center hosts primary school, middle school and high school students to explore protein purification, crystallization of insulin and lysozyme, and solving the crystal structures of those two proteins.
