Dan Williams

HS student using Pioreactors to track yeast growth when treated w various levels of caffeine -eventually for directed evolution of caffeine tolerant mutants Blue = Control Red = low conc. Green not the highest caffeine -but maybe the sweet spot for selection? @nysmtp.bsky.social @stanys.bsky.social

EXCITING day in our Lab! SI HS Ss have been learning how to use @nanoporetech.com DNA sequencing technology We've tried & failed many times We just got our longest high quality read @ 73,000 bases! It's 100% coverage & 100% similarity to staphlococcus aureus! @nysmtp.bsky.social @dnalc.bsky.social

Last night was Shelter Island's 61st annual Science Fair! My 20th -the most NextGen thing we do Ss select topics that interest THEM vapes/cosmetics/microplastics make claims, design valid experiments & justify their claim w data analysis They were amazing @nysmtp.bsky.social @stanys.bsky.social

Exciting News! We are bringing our DNA Barcoding summer camp up Island to Port Jefferson NY through the PJ Village Center & the LI Seaport & Ecology Center #LISEC -This 2 wk summer camp gets ss to do HANDS-ON field work & cutting edge DNA lab techniques! @nysmtp.bsky.social @stanys.bsky.social

Where does antibody diversity come from? A million genes? Proteins molded fr antigen shape? Interchangeable parts? Ss brainstormed ideas then worked through buffet style gene/protein menus to make unique antibodies! & they picked on my tracing... @nysmtp.bsky.social @3dmoleculardesigns.bsky.social

Long-term investigation in Shelter Island Marine Science. Last month we collected water samples from 3 different locations. The students filtered the water & are now examining under the microscope to see if its potentially microplastic. @nysmtp.bsky.social @stanys.bsky.social

Right after the Bio Breakfast, come join me to explore the Chemistry of Protein structure @ session F-17 "Folding & Molding" upstairs in the "Directors Room" -See you there!
@stanys.bsky.social @nysmtp.bsky.social @3dmoleculardesigns.bsky.social

On my way to Syracuse for some of the best PD of the year! @stanys.bsky.social Can't wait to see old friends & make some new ones! Personally, I'll be presenting 4 workshops and running the @3dmoleculardesigns.bsky.social booth! Hope to see you there! @nysmtp.bsky.social

What's even more cool? I name every computer in the lab after famous scientists....I didn't realize until AFTER we started our DNA Sequencing reaction-but how appropriate that we choose THIS computer! @nysmtp.bsky.social @stanys.bsky.social @dnalc.bsky.social #RosalindFranklin

Today on Shelter Island, we completed our first ever DNA SEQUENCING experiment! @oxfordnanopore.bsky.social 16s Barcoding -culminating 2 years of student work hopefully confirming PCR results (watch this space) we had lots of mistakes so maybe wait for trial 2 @nysmtp.bsky.social @dnalc.bsky.social

When a 'good lab result' breaks your heart. My students followed the microplastics protocols from @nyseagrant.bsky.social collecting water fr around Shelter Island & today we can see that there is indeed plastic in our Estuary. Increasing student awareness. @nysmtp.bsky.social @stanys.bsky.social

I say it every yr b/c it's TRUE. This is the single best lab! Ss spent the day doing field wk @ 3 local beaches for a Day in the Life of the Peconic Estuary documenting water quality, fauna & flora. We added sampling for microplastics! @nyseagrant.bsky.social @nysmtp.bsky.social @stanys.bsky.social

Just finished a planning mtg w my co-presenter for The Biology Thread @stanys.bsky.social conference. It's just over 2 wks away! We are presenting "Making Sense of the Investigations" where we will discuss strategies for before & after the new labs. Hope to see you in Syracuse! @nysmtp.bsky.social

Shelter Island weather conditions since midnight Saturday. Pretty much everything we discussed in Marine Science last wk, consistent effects of a lingering 'Nor Easter Students are studying patterns to understand & predict local weather/climate @nysmtp.bsky.social @stanys.bsky.social

Shelter Island Science has entered the Genomic Age! Or @ least started a deeper dive into Microbiomes
& Bioinformatics! TY to the generous support of donors students soon will be exploring entire new frontiers of DNA Sequencing questions! @dnalc.bsky.social @nysmtp.bsky.social @stanys.bsky.social

Announcing the partnership between the Town of Shelter Island + our school's Science Dept to monitor Salt Water intrusion in our drinking water. Our students will test the water + report back creating a map of the island tracking any hot spots #citizenscience @nysmtp.bsky.social @stanys.bsky.social

Unexpected FUN result of collaboration w the Chemistry teacher next door -students learn spectroscopy during 1st period & later the SAME day in Science Research they learn about DNA sequencing spectroscopy w florescent labeled nucleotides! Making Science Stick @nysmtp.bsky.social @stanys.bsky.social

Over 280 lbs recovered oyster shells so far from restaurant dinners as students through #LISEC Long Island Seaport & Ecology Center + Avalon Nature Preserve team up w Half Shells for Habitat's oyster shell recycling program. And we are JUST GETTING STARTED! @nysmtp.bsky.social @stanys.bsky.social

Want to barcode the bay? If you're in Port Jefferson at the Farmers market, ck out the #LISEC education table @ the "Quick & Dirty Boat Build" Tons of STUDENT projects! Oyster Shell Recycling, DNA Barcoding & Microplastics @nysmtp.bsky.social @stanys.bsky.social @cshlaboratory.bsky.social

If you're in Port Jefferson, NY, ck out the #LISEC education table @ the "Quick & Dirty Boat Build" Tons of STUDENT projects! Oyster Shell Recycling, DNA Barcoding w/ DNALC & Microplastics Both Today & Tomorrow! @nysmtp.bsky.social @stanys.bsky.social @cshlaboratory.bsky.social

Thank you NYS Seagrant for this INCREDIBLE workshop. So many cool projects to do w students both in school & at LISEC. We examined water samples from the lake -we got fibers, but probably biological. At least we have the concept down! So excited to share! @nysmtp.bsky.social @stanys.bsky.social

What a cool experience working w teachers from across NYS on creating a programable water ROV using Arduino hardware & code to collect microplastics! TY @nyseagrant for this amazing WS! So many incredible student projects can come from this! #LISEC @stanys.bsky.social @nysmtp.bsky.social

Thank you @stanys.bsky.social for the EXCELLENT PD today "Making Science Stick" where downstate NY Science teachers worked & brainstormed the best ways to reach our students, get them EXCITED about Science, so much so -that the ideas, concepts and practices STICK! @nysmtp.bsky.social AWESOME DAY!

The Long Island Seaport & Ecology Center "LISEC" announces the start of our Oyster Shell Recycling in Port Jefferson! Working w Avalon Nature Preserve & Half Shells for Habitat we will be recycling shells from local restaurants to help restore our environment @nysmtp.bsky.social @stanys.bsky.social

Thank You to the AMAZING teachers who joined from the Bahamas to Portland Oregon @ "Modeling the Molecular World" Our final day, we covered DNA replication, chromosome structure & cell division. I hope I get to work w you all again in the future! @3dmoleculardesigns.bsky.social @nysmtp.bsky.social

So many models So little time! Teachers explored multiple models of DNA & Genes plus transcription & translation @ day 4 of "Modeling the Molecular World" Plus, deeper dives into nucleotide chemistry, RNA structure & Ribosomes. @3dmoleculardesigns.bsky.social @nysmtp.bsky.social @stanys.bsky.social

Today, teachers examined how to transform old-fashioned memorization of cell parts/processes into exploration, discovery & modeling at Day 3 of "Modeling the Molecular World" they also got to explore the world of molecular visualization tools! @3dmoleculardesigns.bsky.social @nysmtp.bsky.social

What makes a good model? In part, it's ability to generate questions & we had tons of really deep biological ques today @ day 2 of "Modeling the Molecular World" @3dmoleculardesigns.bsky.social from Phosphorylation to Conformationional changes the teachers pushed the limits! @nysmtp.bsky.social

Such a fun/INCREDIBLE day working w HS/College teachers from across the country in "Modeling the Molecular World" Day 1! We covered a lot of chemistry, shapes & how it affects function! Water, Amino Acids, & Lipids -oh my! What an AWESOME group @3dmoleculardesigns.bsky.social @nysmtp.bsky.social

Gearing up for my second time helping to facilitate
"Modeling the Molecular World" @3dmoleculardesigns.bsky.social
Every model is prepared ✔️
Cool Science ✔️
Materials ✔️
Slides ✔️
Now I can't wait to meet our teacher participants!!!!