We can serve a class size of 32 students, and we can serve multiple class periods of the same subject within the same visit (e.g., we can do activities with 4 classes of biology students).
Category: In-School Field Trip Experiences
WHAT IS THE COST OF AN IN-SCHOOL FIELD TRIP?
All Southern Research in-school field trips are free! These opportunities are made possible through support from the State of Alabama.
WHAT DATES ARE AVAILABLE FOR IN-SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS?
Please take a look at our calendar under In-School Field Trip Experiences. The calendar lists all open and available dates for in-school field trips.
HOW MANY IN-SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS CAN I REQUEST IN A SINGLE SCHOOL YEAR?
Our funding enables us to serve the entire state of Alabama, thus we must limit in-school field trip requests to one request per teacher per year. You may submit additional requests for other subjects that we can put on our waitlist, and if we have availability, we will reach out to you.
HOW DO I REQUEST AN IN-SCHOOL FIELD TRIP VISIT WITH SOUTHERN RESEARCH?
Please fill out the request form and you will receive a confirmation email from our STEM team. Please note this form is a request for that date and in-school field trip experience, and it does not lock in your reservation until you receive official confirmation from our STEM team.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO ATTEND FIELD TRIPS OFFERED AT SOUTHERN RESEARCH?
We provide in-school field trip experiences for 6th – 12th grade students. For K-5 student experiences, please check out our Elementary Outreach page!
Doggone Tasty Genetics
Students will learn about the inheritance of traits through a hands-on activity where they will use information from alleles to “build” their very own science lab(rador retriever). They will then use Punnett squares to illustrate how traits are passed from parents to offspring and determine if the traits are dominant, recessive, etc. Students will then engage in an experiment to determine if they can taste phenylthiocarbamide (PTC). Students will use data analysis to determine the phenotypic and genotypic ratios of their class and participate in a discussion about genetic mutations.
*Full experience is 90 minutes but can be split into two 45-minute sessions across two days for those on 50-minute period schedules.
Using DNA to Diagnose & Understand Disease
Students will be introduced to a family interested in finding out whether their child has the disease, Cystic Fibrosis (CF). Students will use gel electrophoresis to detect a mutation in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene and determine if the individuals do or do not have the disease or if they are a carrier for CF. Following the diagnosis, students will learn about the Central Dogma of biology and its role in individuals who have Cystic Fibrosis. Through a hands-on activity, students will transcribe, translate, and synthesize the CFTR protein – a critical chloride protein channel. They will then use the 3D protein models to discuss how a mutation in the CFTR gene can result in improper protein function, which results in the key symptoms seen in those with CF.
*Full experience is 90 minutes but can be split into two 45-minute sessions across two days for those on 50-minute period schedules.
Disease Diagnostics: Using PCR to Diagnose Cystic Fibrosis
Students will be introduced to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and how it can be used to diagnose disease. Students will participate in a hands-on activity to model the steps of PCR and how it can be used to detect and amplify specific genetic sequences, including genetic mutations. Students will be given ready-to-load DNA samples from patients interested in finding out their disease status for Cystic Fibrosis. After analyzing the gel, students will be tasked with building a family pedigree to illustrate their findings and to also predict the disease state of other family members.
*Full experience is 90 minutes but can be split into two 45-minute sessions across two days for those on 50-minute period schedules.
