Science instructors trek Alaska through Chautauqua Institute program

Bev Dow and Kate Kramer framed by Mt. McKinley

Bev Dow (Biology instructor and MCCFA president) and Kate Kramer (Geology instructor) traveled to Alaska in June to participate in a program sponsored by the Chautauqua Institute. Before their classes began they took a three-day trip from Anchorage to Denali National Park. They were among the 15% of tourists to see Mt. McKinley (pictured) on a clear day. Upon returning to Anchorage, Kate and Bev took a course in the ecology of south-central Alaska.

During their three days with two instructors from the University of Alaska, Anchorage, they studied the tundra, taiga, and coastal rainforest ecosystems. Following the class, they took a one-day cruise of the Kenai Fjords, seeing humpbacked whales, Steller sea lions, sea otters, puffins, common murre (birds that look and sound like penguins), and an actively calving glacier. Kate stayed on for a class on glaciers and another class on earthquakes and tsunamis. (submitted by B.D.)

Science Department scores bull’s eye at Catapult Contest

Photo credit: Rob Twardock from College of Lake County

Instructors Steve Socol, Ph.D. (chemistry) and Joe Nothnagel (chemistry, physics) helped organize the second annual Suburban Chicago Intercollegiate Catapult Contest, held at the College of Lake County on May 2nd, and served as judges. The catapult contest is an annual competition for engineering students from some of the local community colleges.

This year MCC, College of Lake County, Oakton Community College, Harper College and College of DuPage competed. Students design and build their own catapults; each team may spend a maximum of $100 on materials. Teams also must adhere to size limitations in creating the catapults which are designed to shoot tennis balls. The teams compete in three events: distance, accuracy, and precision. The MCC team won the precision event placing fifth out of the 12 entered teams. Congratulations to Steve and Joe!

Marla Garrison and student represent MCC at STEM science competition

Biology instructor, Marla Garrison, stands proudly with her student, Maria Nellessen, at the Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference (ISCC) STEM Poster Contest. Marla was an advisor to Maria during her microbiology independent study. Maria competed with other Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) students from Skyway Conference community colleges at this event hosted  Waubonsee Community College on April 16th. Maria won a bronze medal for her poster entry, "The Effect of Osmotic Upshock on UV Radiation Resistance in Escherichia Coli." Her entry was one of 30 submitted in the general science category.