|
Advanced Math/Science Research Update
by Dr. April Burch, Director of the AMSR program
January 15, 2013
Since our last update, Berkshire School hosted student researchers from Belmont Hill,  and all-boys prep school outside of Boston, for a 1-day mini-symposium on Student Biomedical Research. The goal was to foster collaboration, communication and community outreach with our students. AMSR students Liza Bernstein '13, Sissi Wang '13, Lars Robinson '13, Elsie Guevara '13, Ernest Yue '13, and Nate MacKenzie '14, gave short talks about their work in the new Bellas/Dixon Math and Science lecture hall. The talks were followed up by break-out sessions where Belmont Hill students described their research projects and students discussed commonalities between the projects and future goals.
The second semester of AMSR started with some terrific news. The AMSR program was awarded a grant from The Chinchester Dupont Foundation for the purchase of an EVOS fluorescence microscope. This piece of equipment will expand the types of experiments and analyses that can be done by AMSR students this and future years. The microscope should arrive shortly, and Dr. Burch has invited everyone to stop in for a look next time they are on campus.
One new, exciting project that is underway in the winter season of AMSR in the afternoons is being spearheaded by Elif Kesaf '14. Elif is from Turkey and seeks to identify novel viruses of non-pathogenic strains of Legionella bacterium from travertines in Pamukkale. In collaboration with Dr. Sunny Shin at the Perlman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, she will be working to isolate viruses of this bacterium with the hope of identifying new agents to combat Legionnaires' disease caused by a pathogenic form of Legionella.
Look for more news from Dr. Burch in the next issue!
 |
Posted Saturday, Feb 9, 2013
The school has a new tool to monitor and analyze real-time energy consumption on campus: an online Energy Dashboard that includes data from many campus buildings, as well as the two-megawatt solar field. Click here to learn more.
|
 |
Posted Friday, Feb 8, 2013
As part of the Center for Writing and Critical Thinking monthly seminar series, Academic Dean Clay Splawn will present a lecture entitled "In the Mind's Eye: Visual Illusions and Cognitive Biases" this Sunday at 7 PM in the Bellas/Dixon Math and Science Center. The event is open to the public.
|
 |
Posted Wednesday, Feb 6, 2013
Students in Mr. Gappa's AP U.S. Government classes, representing U.S. Supreme court judges and plaintiffs in the Fisher v. University of Texas case, participated in a recent mock trial. Plaintiffs challenged the affirmative action admission policy of the University of Texas - Austin. After spirited debates, two classes ruled in favor of Fisher, and one ruled in favor the University.
|
 |
Posted Monday, Feb 4, 2013
Three intrepid members of the Quiz Bowl team forwent a portion of their precious Winter Long Weekend to compete in the fourth annual UConn Invitational Quiz Bowl. Though they were down a man, they quickly racked up two victories in the first round and eventually posted a very respectable 12th place finish in a field of 28 teams from Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.
|
 |
Posted Monday, Jan 28, 2013
Students in the Model UN club and Mr. Gappa's 21st Century Politics class participated in a two-day Model UN competition at nearby Bard College at Simon's Rock. Representing countries in four committee councils, the students utilized their research and skills of persuasion to advocate their positions. Click here to learn more.
|
 |
Posted Friday, Jan 25, 2013
Dr. Magnus Bergkvist of the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering spoke recently about his research on the development of nanoparticles for drug delivery and biotechnology. His presentation was part of the Advanced Math/Science Research (AMSR) lecture series. Click here to learn more.
|
 |
Posted Tuesday, Jan 22, 2013
Jarrett Mathis '04, founder of the nonprofit organization Empowering Ourselves, urged the community to consider ways in which they can serve others, in the spirit of Martin Luther King, Jr., in large and small ways every day. Chris Jiambalvo '13 also introduced a new Berkshire event that will occur this Thursday, "Open Up Day."
|
 |
Posted Tuesday, Jan 22, 2013
Though Pro Vita Week is still a month away, anticipation is building. The course catalog is released, visiting faculty are announced, and evening programs are highlighted. Click here to learn more.
|
 |
Posted Tuesday, Jan 15, 2013
Ten students recently participated in the Western Massachusetts District Festival, singing in a 200-voice chorus and playing in the Orchestra and Concert Band. Students auditioned for this privilege back in November and have been practicing for the event since. Click here to read more.
|
 |
Posted Tuesday, Jan 15, 2013
Students in the Advanced Math/Science Research (AMSR) program have been busy. They hosted a Student Biomedical Research mini-symposium for peers from Belmont Hill recently, and are eager to get their hands on a new EVOS florescence microscope they purchased with a grant. Click here to learn more.
|
 |
Posted Monday, Jan 14, 2013
Academic Awards for the Second Marking Period were announced at a recent All-School meeting. Click here to see the list of award recipients.
|
 |
Posted Thursday, Jan 3, 2013
Renowned chamber music group, Prometheus Ensemble, will perform this Friday, January 4, at 7:30 PM in the atrium of Berkshire Hall. Music by composers Brahms and Dohnányi will complement Berkshire's own Tasia Cheng-Chia Wu's 2011 commissioned work. The event is free and open to the public.
|
 |
Posted Thursday, Jan 3, 2013
Dr. Kohlhepp will lead a discussion about Shakespeare's Hamlet, as part of the Center for Writing and Critical Thinking Seminar Series. This presentation is well-timed for seniors who will be reading, then performing, the tragedy this month in English classes.
|
 |
Posted Tuesday, Dec 11, 2012
The Center for Global Initiatives sponsors a 12-day trip to Argentina in June 2013. With tours of culturally significant sites in Buenos Aires and service work with the Guarani people in Iguazu, the trip offers students a first-hand appreciation into the rich diversity and socio-political forces that shape this exciting country.
|
 |
Posted Monday, Dec 10, 2012
Students in Heidi Woodworth's U.S. History class capped a Civil War unit with a trip to Great Barrington to see the movie blockbuster "Lincoln." Click here to read more.
|
 |
Posted Tuesday, Dec 4, 2012
Join us this Friday at 7:30 PM for the Winter Concert, featuring music performed by Jazz Band, Jazz Combo, Chorus, Ursa Minor (Berkshire School's female a cappella group), Greensleeves (Berkshire School's all male a cappella group), Chamber Music Ensemble, and the Community Orchestra. The night will include many all-time favorites. The event is free and open to the public.
|
 |
Posted Monday, Dec 3, 2012
Mr. Nielsen's Modern World History classes put a modern spin on the study of the French Revolution and Napoleon when they edited, performed and filmed a six-act play. Click here to see each class's video.
|
 |
Posted Friday, Nov 30, 2012
Two lucky students had the opportunity to meet Ambassador Ryan Crocker, a statesman whose distinguished diplomatic career has spanned four presidencies. The event was facilitated by Berkshire's new Center for Global Initiatives.
|
 |
Posted Friday, Nov 30, 2012
Students in the Advanced Math/Science Research program met with peers from Belmont Hill to share research projects and stories. Teachers from both schools agreed the day was a terrific opportunity to foster communication and collaboration.
|
 |
Posted Thursday, Nov 29, 2012
Five students have submitted their research to the INTEL Science Talent Search, the nation's most prestigious science competition for high school students. Since 2010, Berkshire has had four INTEL Semifinalists. Click here to learn more about these students and their fields of study.
|
 |
Posted Tuesday, Nov 27, 2012
Mrs. Anderson's Spanish students are sharing their newfound language skills with the children at Undermountain Child Care. This intergenerational exchange has been beneficial for both "teacher" and student.
|
 |
Posted Tuesday, Nov 27, 2012
On Tuesday, the Center for Writing and Critical Thinking partners with the Health/Wellness Program to screen Miss Representation, a documentary that examines media's role in gender stereotyping. Facilitated small group discussions will follow.
|
 |
Posted Tuesday, Nov 13, 2012
Academic Awards for the First Marking Period were announced at a recent School Meeting. Honor and High Honor Roll lists were also posted. Click here to view.
|
 |
Posted Thursday, Nov 8, 2012
Ernest Yue '13 is interested in social robotics. He is working with Dr. Webb to build a a module that would allow a robot to recognize hand gestures, nonverbal cues that will lead to a more "social" robot in the future. This emerging field in science and engineering research is important for artificial intelligence.
|
 |
Posted Monday, Oct 29, 2012
The Theater Department stages Oscar Wilde's classic comedy "The Importance of Being Earnest" this Thursday, November 1 - Saturday, November 3 at 7:30 PM in Allen Theater. After two years of modern fare, this production reaches back into the traditional theater canon while urging the actors to "push outside their perceived boundaries and try something that stretches them."
|
 |
Posted Wednesday, Oct 24, 2012
Math teacher Jasper Turner will share simple algorithms for solving the complex Rubik's Cube in the second program of the Center for Writing and Critical Thinking (CWCT) Lecture Series. The program is this Friday at 7:30 PM in the Bellas/Dixon Lecture Hall.
|
 |
Posted Monday, Oct 22, 2012
Eager Chinese IV students lobbied to add Chinese V to the curriculum. The result is a new course that broadens their study of the language and culture. Click here to learn more.
|
 |
Posted Wednesday, Oct 17, 2012
The Berkshire Scholar, an annual publication that features select academic essays, has just been published. This edition showcases student work from the 2011-12 school year. Click here to view.
|
 |
Posted Wednesday, Oct 17, 2012
Juniors in Advanced English have been reading texts about material excess and a perceived moral bankruptcy of modern society. Some have taken advantage of the opportunity to reflect on these issues on an overnight sojourn in the School's Thoreau Cabin replica.
|
 |
Posted Tuesday, Oct 16, 2012
Social entrepreneur Alvaro Rodriguez Arregui '85 returns to Berkshire on Thursday to talk about work in Latin American venture capitalism that "serves the base of the pyramid" and visit with economics classes. Forbes Magazine has listed him on their Impact 30 list of the world's top 30 social entrepreneurs.
|
|
|
245 North Undermountain Road 
