Would you like the opportunity to research and learn about anything that interests you from any area of Science or Technology and then design and conduct an experiment within that area, under the guidance of one of the top scientists in that field?
Sound exciting?!
Welcome to the
Dobbs Ferry Science Research Program
Overview of the Science Research Program
The science research course is designed to provide students with a chance to pursue an in-depth understanding of a topic of their choice by allowing them to participate in the community of science research and scholarship.
- Students choose and explore a topic of interest related to: physical science, life sciences, computer science, mathematics, social science, or psychology
- Students are taught the process of online bibliographic researching and are able to access many scientific databases. Initially, students use library and Internet research tools to identify specific subjects currently being studied within their chosen area.
- Students prepare a statement of what they intend to study based on their bibliographic research, which helps them to focus on the specifics of their chosen area of interest
- Students find and study several scientific journal articles then present the information from some of their articles to the class. Their presentation to the class emphasizes how the research described in the articles was conducted. Thus, the scientific method, which is an essential part of the entire research course, is made explicit for the student and the class:
- Review of the literature, Statement of the Hypothesis, Methodology of the experiment, Analysis of the results, Discussion of the data, Conclusions, Bibliographic background.
Once a significant amount of background material is acquired and a strong sense of understanding is gained, the student makes contact with a research scientist within their field of interest.
Very often this is one of the authors of the articles they have read. At that time, the students ask the scientist to serve as a mentor, or to help in finding an appropriate scientist to serve as a mentor, in assisting them in carrying out a research project in their area of interest.
Very often this is one of the authors of the articles they have read. At that time, the students ask the scientist to serve as a mentor, or to help in finding an appropriate scientist to serve as a mentor, in assisting them in carrying out a research project in their area of interest.
Students then engage in an independent piece of research that they design and conduct under the supervision of their mentor, an active researcher in the field of interest.
Most of this research takes place over the summer. Students who plan on volunteering in a lab during the summer should be able to commit 4-6 weeks to working with their mentor in the lab, over the summer. If this is not possible, students are encouraged to explore other ways to collect data and conduct research over the summer.
The classroom teacher meets with each individual and the entire research class on a regular basis. This is done to ensure the student is supported in this challenging endeavor. However, each student's research should be unique to them and they have fully ownership over the work they complete.
Most of this research takes place over the summer. Students who plan on volunteering in a lab during the summer should be able to commit 4-6 weeks to working with their mentor in the lab, over the summer. If this is not possible, students are encouraged to explore other ways to collect data and conduct research over the summer.
The classroom teacher meets with each individual and the entire research class on a regular basis. This is done to ensure the student is supported in this challenging endeavor. However, each student's research should be unique to them and they have fully ownership over the work they complete.
The Dobbs Ferry High School Science Research Program is a COMPETITIVE program.
Each year of the program has specific requirements for student involvement in different competitions.
EXAMPLES OF COMPETITIONS
Westchester Science & Engineering Fair (WESEF),
Intel Science Talent Search (STS),
Siemens/Westinghouse science competition,
Junior Science + Humanities Symposium(JSHS),
TriCounty Science Fair,
NY State Science Teachers – Science Congress,
Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF),
Somers Science Fair
EXAMPLES OF COMPETITIONS
Westchester Science & Engineering Fair (WESEF),
Intel Science Talent Search (STS),
Siemens/Westinghouse science competition,
Junior Science + Humanities Symposium(JSHS),
TriCounty Science Fair,
NY State Science Teachers – Science Congress,
Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF),
Somers Science Fair
EXAMPLES OF ACTUAL STUDENT PROJECTS
- The Effects of a High Fat Diet on the Occurrence of Prostate Cancer
- The Establishment of a “Teenage-Stress Indicator” Scale
- The Importance of Glial Growth Hormone on the Developing Brain
- Improving the Effectiveness of a Commercial Website
- The Effects of Combining Paclitaxel and Radiation in Combating Breast Cancer
- Effective Methods of Control of the Aedes Japonicus, a Carrier of West Nile Virus
- Using a Natural Fungicide to Control the Tick Population that Transmits Lyme Disease
For more information please contact:
Erica Curran at currane@dfsd.org
Examples of DFHS Science Research Categories and Subcategories
ANIMAL SCIENCES
Development
Ecology
Animal Husbandry
Pathology
Physiology
Populations Genetics
Systematics
BEHAVIORAL & SOCIAL SCIENCES
Clinical & Developmental Psychology
Cognitive Psychology
Cognitive Neuroscience
Physiological Psychology
Sociology
BIOCHEMISTRY
General Biochemistry
Metabolism
Structural Biochemistry
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR
BIOLOGY
Cellular Biology
Cellular and Molecular Genetics
Immunology
Molecular Biology
CHEMISTRY
Analytical Chemistry
General Chemistry
Inorganic Chemistry
Organic Chemistry
Physical Chemistry
COMPUTER SCIENCE
Algorithms, Data Bases
Artificial Intelligence
Networking and Communications
Computational Science,
Computer
Graphics
Software Engineering., Programming
Languages
Computer System,
Operating System
EARTH & PLANETARY SCIENCE
Climatology, Weather
Geochemistry, Mineralogy
Paleontology
Geophysics
Planetary Science
Tectonics
ENGINEERING: Electrical & Mechanical
Electrical Eng., Computer Eng., Controls
Mechanical Engineering,
Robotics
Thermodynamics, Solar
ENGINEERING: Materials & Bioengineering
Bioengineering
Civil Engineering, Construction Eng.
Chemical Engineering
Industrial Engineering, Processing
Material Science
ENERGY & TRANSPORTATION
Aerospace and Aeronautical Engineering,
Aerodynamics
Alternative Fuels
Fossil Fuel Energy
Vehicle Development
Renewable Energies
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
Bioremediation
Ecosystems Management
Environmental Engineering
Land Resource Management, Forestry
Recycling,
Waste Management
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
Air Pollution and Air Quality
Soil Contamination and Soil Quality
Water Pollution and Water Quality
MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES
Algebra
Analysis
Applied Mathematics
Geometry
Probability and Statistics
MEDICINE & HEALTH SCIENCES
Disease Diagnosis and Treatment
Epidemiology
Genetics
Molecular Biology of Diseases
Physiology and Pathophysiology
MICROBIOLOGY
Antibiotics, Antimicrobials
Bacteriology, Microbial Genetics, Virology
PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY
Atoms, Molecules, Solids
Astronomy
Biological Physics
Instrumentation and Electronics
Magnetics and Electromagnetics
Nuclear and Particle Physics
Optics, Lasers, Masers
Theoretical Physics,
Theoretical or
Computational Astronomy
PLANT SCIENCES
Agriculture/Agronomy
Development
Ecology
Genetics
Photosynthesis
Plant Physiology
Plant Systematics,
Evolution