From Jan. 21-23, 18 Millis High School students participated in an immersive marine biology program at the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) in Woods Hole. Through the “Microbial Symbiosis in Aquatic Environments” course, taught by published scientist Dr. Blair Paul and research assistant Stephanie Richards, students engaged in ongoing research and conducted their own microbial experiments.

The Marine Biological Laboratory is a world-renowned hub of biological and environmental research and innovation. MBL’s High School Science Discovery Program allows students to investigate various scientific topics through hands-on learning activities. Thanks to an MBL state grant and a transportation grant from MERIT, several MHS students interested in STEM, and faculty chaperones Mrs. Erin Cheney and Mrs. Kathleen Streck, were able to attend the program free of charge. 

The three-day experience included morning lectures detailing Dr. Paul’s and Richards’ research into microbial symbiosis and bacterial infection, wet labs where students collected samples from local beaches to observe under microscopes, and a tour of MBL’s Marine Resources Center. Students even had the opportunity to hold a genuine Nobel Prize while visiting MBL’s Rare Books collection. The program culminated in an afternoon of presentations, during which students showcased their data on the impact of various changing conditions (light-exposure, salinity, and temperature) on the spread of viruses. They were also able to present photos and data from their own experiments, which involved bacterial cultures grown from sources of the students’ choosing. 

Students were excited to be involved in, and learn about, such groundbreaking research. MHS junior Hannah Roman said, “It was eye-opening to see the process [behind scientific research] and to get to work with such knowledgeable people.”

Ben Vaccaro, another MHS junior, reflected, “It was an awesome experience because we were placed in an environment that was really conducive to curiosity.”

“The High School Science Discovery Program at MBL was an amazing, hands-on learning experience for our students,” commented environmental science and anatomy teacher Erin Cheney. “My favorite part of the trip was the tour of the Marine Resources Center. I loved watching the students’ expressions while they held various sea animals--especially the huge horseshoe crabs.”