Stony Brook University - Center for Science and Mathematics Education (CESAME)

B.R.A.I.N
(Beginning Research Awareness in Neuroscience)

Hosted by:
Stony Brook University Center for Science and Mathematics Education and
Ride for Life, Inc.

What:	A Science Competition for Long Island Middle School (grades 6-8) Students
When:	May 12, 2009
Where:	Stony Brook University
Time:	8:30am – 1:00pm
Fee:	$35 per team
Deadline Date:	March 23, 2009
Director:	Joan Kiely, Director, Biotechnology Teaching Center

1. Description: Do your students understand biology in three-dimensions? This competition will help them hone that skill as they learn more about human physiology and cell functions. We will focus on computer imagery and model building as the students learn about the nervous system and amylotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The material used for this competition is aligned with the New York State standards for intermediate school, background in the Living Environment or chemistry is not required. All teams must be accompanied by a teacher who has taken one of the training sessions. There will be a limit of 36 teams in the competition. Your school can register one team on a first-come first-served basis; if space permits we will accept multiple teams from a school.

2. Competition: This event has three parts: a pre-built model (Part I), an on-site build model (Part II) and an on-site exam (Part III). Students may not bring any materials or computers of any kind into the on-site competition on May 12.

a. Part I: The Pre-Built Model. Students will build a model of Superoxide Dismutase based on coordinate data in file 1N19.pdb found at the RCSB Protein Data Bank (www.pdb.org). Registered teams will receive a kit containing a Mini-Toober for building a model. Students can make additions to the model with materials of their choosing. The focus of the model should be on creatively telling the story of the molecule’s significance, structure and function. Grading will be based on the accuracy and scale of the alpha-helix and beta-sheet secondary structures, other elaborations and enhancements on the protein backbone such as side chains or associated molecules. Students must provide a 3x5 note card explaining the creative additions to their model and what they represent. Models must arrive at Stony Brook University by May 5 for judging. The models will be returned.

b. Part II: The On-Site Model. During the on-site competition, students will build another model of a region of SOD1. They will make a protein folding map and model using a computer provided at the competition with the Jmol application, a text editor, PDB file, structure summary page and Molecule of the Month file. Students may only use the computers provided at the competition. Any model handed to the judges after the end of the competition time (50 minutes) will not be accepted for scoring.

c. Part III: The On-Site Exam. During this section of the competition, students will complete a multiple choice/short answer exam with questions about eukaryotic cell structure, the nervous system, ALS and SOD1.

3. Scoring: 40% of the event score will be based on the pre-built protein model (Part I), 30% on the on-site build (Part II) and 30% on the exam (Part III). Ties will be broken using questions on the exam selected by the event supervisor before the start of the competition.

1 Mini-Toobers® are products of 3D Molecular Designs, Wauwatosa, WI, www.3dmoleculardesigns.com

Click here for material to help you prepare for the event.