Waterford FFA - Research & Experimentation
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The Waterford FFA is one of the leading chapters for scientific research and experimentation. With affiliations with the University of Wisconsin - Madison, the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater, the US Department of Energy, the National Science Teachers Association, the Wisconsin Association of Ag Educators, and other top scientific and educational organizations, the Waterford FFA can provide opportunities and experiences in research that are unparalleled by other schools and organizations.
If you have an interest in research or a scientific career, please talk with Mr. Kohn. As a former UW Medical Scholar, a current UW staff member, and a researcher with years of experience in scientific experimentation, he can provide you with guidance and experiences that can help jump-start your journey into a scientific career path and provide you with opportunities that can increase your likelihood of mastering science concepts, gaining admission to a top college or university, and applying to a professional school (such as medical, nursing, or veterinary schools).
Your research opportunities can be as small as a one-time only experience or as broad as all four years of high school. If you have a busy schedule, your experiences can be arranged to fit around your other obligations. See Mr. Kohn today to find out how you can change your life through scientific research.
Table of Contents
Why might this be a good idea for me?
What benefits can I get from this?
What is the Summer Research Scholars Program?
How do I get started?
Stop in and see Mr. Kohn, or email or call him (ckohn@waterforduhs.k12.wi.us; 262-534-3189 x 7309). He can help determine yuor area of interests and guide you towards the right options for you.
Why might this be a good idea for me?
Science is a hands-on subject. You can't perform a surgery by reciting concepts and you can't fix a polluted ecosystem through a
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multiple-choice exam. In order to be proficient in science, you must be skilled in the doing of science as much as the knowing of science. To become skilled at performing scientific tasks, you physically have to do them. To become skilled at thinking like a scientist, you have to have personal experience in desiging and conducting experiments.
If you have an interest in a career in agriculture, medicine, technology, the environment, or any other branch of science, you need to have first-hand experience and the sooner the better. If you intend to go to college for a science-based major, you should be working outside of class in a scientific capacity. What better way than by doing research?!
Where would I do this?
Waterford Agricultural Sciences has some of the best facilities of its kind in the state. From our own Research Lab to our Greenhouse to the Environmental Center, the resources available to you are unparalleled. Where you work depends on your interests and intentions. If you intend to work with any dangerous substances or chemicals, you will probably work in the Research Lab where we can safely use these items.
If you intend to work with plants, you will most likely be in the Greenhouse much of the time. If you like animals, your work could occur in a number of locations depending on the size and amount of animals. If you want to do environmental research, the school campus and surrounding community offers a number of different locations.
How much time does it take?
That's up to you. If you don't have a lot of time, we can make sure you get a lot of experience in a short amount of time. If you have the ability to take on a larger project, we can make sure that you get college-level experiences before actually getting there. It's completely up to you how in-depth you go and how long it takes.
What benefits can I get from this?
Well, it would be pretty hard to fit all of them on one web page, but here are a few of the bigger ones:
- Mastery of science and scientific processes - science is a "learn by doing" subject; sure, you might have done labs in science and ag courses, but until you have actually taken part in real scientific inquiry through experiments that you have designed and tested, you have not experienced real science. As it turns out, most universities and professional schools expect their students to be experienced in "real science", not the classroom variety. In fact, this is exactly what you are tested on by the ACT Science Exam (as opposed to science concepts learned in class) - and Mr. Kohn is also the school's ACT Science instructor!
- Increased likelihood of admission to a university or college - universities do NOT want a student who can repeat facts but is unable to use them. Having proof that you are active outside of class, can use your knowledge, and care about improving the world around you are vital parts of the college admission process.
- Scholarships and Money - the FFA offers millions of dollars in scholarship every year to active members. What better way to demonstrate your personal involvement than through an engaging experience like scientific research?! For non-FFA members, involvement outside of class in an intellectually-challenging setting such as this can only raise your appeal to scholarship committees.
- Improved academic performance - Mr. Kohn knows what it is like to struggle through college courses because of a lack of high school preparation. In fact, many college students today are required to take extra remedial courses in order to stay in school. Personal experiences in research can bolster your academic performance in not just the sciences, but also math, English, and others through the structured learning environment created for this situation by Mr. Kohn.
- Life-changing experiences - science has the ability to change the lives of everyone in the world and does so on a daily basis. There are few experiences that are more invigorating than working on a project that could help change the lives of others. Will you win a Nobel Prize for your work here at Waterford? Probably not...but that doesn't mean that you can't make the world a little bit better because of your efforts, and nothing feels greater than this kind of experience.
What are the "Night Labs"?
On a weekly basis (usually Tuesday after school in the fall semester), our members have the opportunity to meet and conduct their own research activities as a group. Students of all backgrounds and abilities are strongly encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to gain a real-world experience with scientific experimentation.
Ongoing projects include biodiesel production, enzymatic and chemical breakdown of ethanol crops, plant genetics experimentation, animal nutritional studies, environmental science, algae control methods, and carbon cycling factors.
No experience is necessary - every student researcher began with no expertise but they did gain it quickly throught the Night Lab experiences. Stop in one night and see how you can explore the natural world!
What is the Summer Research Scholars Program?
In 2010, Waterford Union High School partnered with Runzheimer, Intl to create the Summer Research Scholars (SRS) Program. This program is modeled after university undergraduate research programs and provides students with the opportunity to conduct research in an area of their interest related to the life sciences that will have a lasting impact on the Waterford community. Students receive $2500 in funding for equipment and materials and will receive a $2500 scholarship upon proof of enrollment in a 4-year university or equivalent. Students with an interest in this program should see Mr. Kohn or email or call him (ckohn@waterforduhs.k12.wi.us; 262-534-3189 x 7309) for more details.
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