Bethany Cook

About GK-12• GK-12 is a program funded by the

National Science Foundation

• Our goal is to have fellows in STEM classrooms, where they will help teachers integrate concepts of computer science into traditional lecture.

About DISSECT

Computational

Thinking• Algorithm

s• Logical

Thinking

Scientific Process

• Rigorous Hypothesis Testing

• Data Analysis

Research

• Isotopes• Methods

in Forensic Science

What is Computational Thinking?

“Computational thinking is a way humans solve problems; it is not trying to get humans to think like computers.” “Computational thinking is using heuristic reasoning to discover a solution.” J. Wing

A CERTAIN WAY OF SOLVING PROBLEMS

What is Grad School?

Why I Chose Grad School• A. I wanted to conduct experiments

that I was interested in and would (eventually) make a difference in how science works in the “real” world.

• B. I was bored at work.• C. I was crazy.• D. I love to learn.• E. All of the above

Research Titles• Abiotic Variation in Carbon and Nitrogen Stable

Isotopic Signatures due to Temperature in the Fathead Minnow (Pimephales promelas)

• Carbon and Nitrogen Stable Isotopic Signatures, Diet Inferences and Tissue Selection in the Endangered Rio Grande Silvery Minnow (Hybognathus amarus)

• Miocene Gomphotherian Diet Inferences from New Mexico using Carbon Isotopic Ratios (Proboscidea)

• Isotopic Memory, Incorporation Rates and Fractionation in the Fathead Minnow (Pimephales promelas)

Experiences

Curtis Fly Lab

Curtis Fly Lab

Dawe Fungal Lab

Hanley Dengue and Influenza Virus Lab

Throop Ecosystem Lab

ThroopEcosystem

Lab

Museum Collections

Module – Prep for Module• IsoForensics – Carbon/Nitrogen

Isotopes in Student Hair

• Preparatory Activities– Excel– Data Collection– Atomic Chemistry–Mass Spectrometry– Isotope Ratio Mass Spec

Introduction to Mass Spectrometry – Cocaine in Hair Sample

• http://svmsl.chem.cmu.edu/• “An Introduction to Mass

Spectrometry Applications in Biological Research”. 2004. Finehout and Lee. The International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Using Stable Isotopes to Trace Geography in Trafficking

• WaterIsotopes.org• Google Earth

• “Tracing geographical and temporal trafficking patterns for marijuana in Alaska using stable isotopes (C, N, O, H)”. 2010 Booth et al. Forensic Science International

IsoForensics – Carbon/Nitrogen Isotopes in Student Hair

Power Point “tour” of LEC Lab and processing of hair samples

Video Bio• http://www.cs.nmsu.edu/gk-12/• https://sites.google.com/site/mayfield

gk12dissect/