Media Advisory

Morganton and Lenoir high school students
to hop aboard UNC's science learning bus

Media representatives are invited to climb aboard Discovery, one of the buses in the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Destiny science learning program, this week as it travels to high schools in Morganton and Lenoir.

Tuesday (Oct. 17)
7:55 a.m. to 9:25 a.m.; 9:35 a.m. to 11:05 a.m.;
11:35 a.m. to 1:10 p.m.; 1:15 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.
Freedom High School
511 Independence Blvd., Morganton
Three of Christy Arrowood's biology classes and one of Kathy McCormick's biology classes will perform a lab exercise called "Mystery of the Crooked Cell." Students will discover the molecular basis of sickle cell disease by using gel electrophoresis as a diagnostic tool to differentiate normal hemoglobin from hemoglobin found in individuals with sickle cell disease.

Wednesday (Oct. 18)
9:35 a.m. to 11:18 a.m.; 11:45 a.m. to 1:18 p.m.; 1:25 p.m. to 2:53 p.m.
Hibriten High School
550 East Blvd., Lenoir
Two of Amy Bradley's biology classes and one of Freda Parker's biology classes will perform a lab exercise called "Mystery of the Crooked Cell." Students will discover the molecular basis of sickle cell disease by using gel electrophoresis as a diagnostic tool to differentiate normal hemoglobin from hemoglobin found in individuals with sickle cell disease.

The Destiny traveling science learning program is the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center's formal science education initiative serving pre-college teachers and students across North Carolina. The program develops and delivers a standards-based, hands-on curriculum and teacher professional development with a team of educators and a fleet of vehicles that travel throughout the state.

Destiny and Discovery, two custom-built, 40-foot, 33,000-pound buses, bring the latest science and technology equipment to students who otherwise would not see a high-tech laboratory or what a career in science can offer. The modules described above are among 13 offered as part of Destiny's curriculum. All of Destiny's modules are aligned with the N.C. Standard Course of Study. The modules described above are among 13 offered as part of Destiny's curriculum. All of Destiny's modules are aligned with the N.C. Standard Course of Study. "Mystery of the Crooked Cell" was developed by Boston University School of Medicine CityLab.

The science bus is a powerful visual image that heightens public awareness of the importance of and funding necessary for quality science education. Destiny first hit the road in 2000.

For more information, go to http://www.destiny.unc.edu.

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Destiny science learning contact: Claire Bury, (919) 843-5915 or bury@unc.edu
News Services contact: Kyle York, (919) 962-8415 or kyle_york@unc.edu