AP Biology and AP Chemistry go to Plum Island

Students in Mrs. Fried's AP Biology and Mrs. Kelley's AP Chemistry had a unique opportunity to visit the Department of Homeland Security  Science &Technology Directorate: Office of National Laboratories (ONL) Plum Island Animal Disease Center (PIADC). Whew! It's a mouthful. Students participated in three presentations: The History of Plum Island and PIADC Mission by Mr.Golden, Public Affairs Officer, The Use of Laboratory Animals in Disease Research by Dr. Morgan, and Pathways to Becoming a Zoonotic Disease Researcher by Dr. Rodriguez. Following these great talks, students were taken on a tour of Plum Island with stops at the Plum Island lighthouse, the islands wetland habitat, grey seal haulout, and historic military bunkers. We will be working with school staff to bring in Dr. Morgan and Dr. Rodriguez to talk more about career opportunities in the animal disease research field. 
 
For more information check out their fact sheet: https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/Plum%20Island%20Animal%20Disease%20Center-PIADC-061914_2.pdf
And for information on the ecological significance of Plum Island see the New York Natural Heritage Inventory publication here https://nynhp.org/files/PlumIsland_2016/Plum_Island_biodiversity_inventory_June2016.pdf
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