Science Electives
| Elective | Description | Teacher |
| Astronomy | Astronomy is a natural science that studies celestial objects and phenomena. It applies mathematics, physics, and chemistry in an effort to explain the origin of those objects and phenomena and their evolution. |
Taught by Sarah Dibble |
| Bioethics & Lab Assistant | Bioethics is the study of the ethical issues emerging from advances in biology and medicine. It is also moral discernment as it relates to medical policy and practice. | Taught by Christina Calarco-Lukins |
| Environmental Science | Apocalypse Soon: has civilization passed the environmental point of no return? In this course we will research and explore current issues concerning the interrelationships between humans and the environment. Topics include: environmental challenges, sustainability, risk analysis and environmental hazards, human population change, air and air pollution, global atmospheric changes (global climate change), freshwater resources and water pollution, the ocean and fisheries, mineral and soil resources, land resources, biodiversity and conservation, invasive species, and non-renewable and renewable energy. |
Taught by Erik Untiedt |
| Forensics |
Prerequisite: Successful completion of both Regents Biology course and Regents Exam. Grades 11 and 12 only, with seniors getting priority. Do you love TV shows like CSI, Forensic Files, and Bones? Do the minds of history's most prolific criminals interest you? If so, then Forensic Science is the class for you! In this course, we will analyze evidence from crime scenes including fingerprints, hair and fiber, blood spatter patterns, ballistics, and DNA, as well as study their significance in the criminal justice system. We will study some of the most famous criminal cases of all time and try to answer the question, "What makes a criminal?" |
Taught by Dominick Carnicelli |
| Marine Biology | Marine Biology is an exciting discipline with an expansive and promising future. Throughout history, humans have been dependent on the marine environment for food, energy and medicine. As humans become more dependent on the oceans to meet these needs of an ever-growing population. Humans must devise new ways to effectively utilize the oceans without harming them, and our species. However, Marine Biology is much more than just the study of the marine environment for human benefit. The ocean is a vast environment, and much of it remains mysterious and unexplored, even to this day. In fact, new and strange species are being discovered all the time. Imagine a dreary world where discovery and fascination were ignored, and our only motivation was to “use” the oceans to serve our immediate needs? Marine Biology affords us the opportunity to explore the vast ocean realm and discover some of the most unusual and beautiful organisms on the planet. |
Taught by Erik Untiedt |
| Natural Disasters | Natural Disasters is a course that offers fun-filled activities such as web quests, individual and group projects, case studies, and breakout boxes to help the student understand the geologic (volcanoes, earthquakes, tsunamis) and atmospheric (tornadoes, hurricanes, global warming) natural disasters. The course will also discuss ways to mitigate personal injury and property damage by focusing on emergency preparedness. Courses can be taken separately in or sequentially. Here is an example of our recent Tornado Breakout Box activity. Students had to solve a series of complex clues, to open various locks, to reach the prize inside the box. |
Taught by Sarah Dibble |
| Physiology of Sport |
Prerequisite: Successful completion of both Regents Biology course and Regents Exam. Grades 11 and 12 only, with seniors getting priority. What happens when you tear your ACL? Why does putting someone else's blood in your body make you better at cardio? Answer these questions and many more by joining Physiology of Sport! In this course, we will discuss cellular anatomy and physiology, nutrition, anatomy of the body, injury prevention, performance enhancing drugs, and much more. Learn the science behind a healthy lifestyle and the athlete's body! |
Taught by Dominick Carnicelli |
