Science

Student working in a chemistry classStudents working in masks and lab coats

"Equipped with his five senses, man explores the universe around him and calls the adventure Science."

—Edwin Powell Hubble, American Astronomer

Why is this program important?

The Science department is committed to offering challenging and relevant programs and providing high quality experiences for students with different interests, needs and abilities. The program also provides students with a practical knowledge of how things work, the environmental complexities of the world around them, and the way the biological world, including their own body, functions.

Every day we are surrounded by technology and the products of science; the smartphone is a product of modern engineering. Trees create food and the oxygen we breathe from sunlight. Many of our country’s most complicated and urgent public policy debates are centered on questions of science: embryonic stem cell research, climate change, space exploration and reproductive technology to name a few. Therefore, it is imperative that we equip our students with sufficient scientific skills to enable them to develop informed opinions.

E.O. Smith’s Science program teaches our students how to think, learn, solve problems, and make informed decisions with the knowledge in biology, chemistry, and physics that will enable them to succeed in college.

Hands on Science

Program Goals

Students who have taken science courses will:
  • Apply understanding of scientific knowledge and skills to the nature of inquiry. Formulate questions and propose hypotheses. Design, conduct, and report on investigations based on research, evidence, and/or scientific numeracy.
  • Read scientific/technical text closely to determine, evaluate and apply the central ideas and/or conclusions, make logical inferences, and provide specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text.
  • Demonstrate an understanding that structure and function are complementary aspects of matter and systems.
  • Apply the law of conservation of energy through analysis of energy transformations within and across systems.
  • Understand and analyze the cumulative effect and patterns of human activity on natural and/or constructed systems.
  • Articulate how conditions of stability and rates of change of a system are critical elements to both natural and/or built systems.
  • Understand and analyze genetics, adaptation and biodiversity.

Curriculum/Classes:

  • Intro to Physical Science
  • Integrated Physical Science
  • Biology
  • AP Chemistry
  • Chemistry
  • AD Physics
  • Physics A/B
  • AD Biotechnology
  • AD Philosophy
  • AD Human Biology
  • Human Anatomy & Physiology
  • Environmental Science
  • Oceanography
  • Intro to Astronomy
  • Geology
  • Genetics
  • Microbiology
  • Allied Health

Extra-Curricular:

  • Radio/Engineering Club
  • First Robotics
  • Vex Robotics
  • Science Club
  • Scuba Club

Careers:

  • Chiropractor
  • Climate change analyst
  • Dental Hygienist
  • Electrician
  • Engineer
  • Genetic Counselor
  • Meteorologist
  • Occupational Therapist
  • Paramedic
  • Patent Lawyer
  • Physician
  • Ship/Boat Captain
  • Veterinarian

"The diverse science curriculum at E.O. Smith truly allowed me to grow and explore my interests in a supportive environment. A student’s first exposures and experiences in science are imperative to spark curiosity and build interest. I can without a doubt say that my experiences at EO Smith inspired me to pursue a career in science and medicine. These classes not only fostered my development as a budding scientist, but have also inspired me to get involved in education during all stages of my training.

I completed a BSc at McGill University in Montreal, and due to my ECE credits, was able to finish in three years. I subsequently completed a Masters in Reproductive and Cancer Biology and a PhD in Molecular and Translational Toxicology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. I also completed a 2- year postdoctoral research fellowship in Oncology at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. I am currently in my final year of medical school at Drexel University in Philadelphia, and I hope to start a residency program in Internal Medicine next year."

Debika Biswal Shinohara, Class of 2004

"In my time at E.O. Smith, science became a much more significant and interesting area of my life. The science classes always challenged me to work harder and smarter. I learned to manage my time; most importantly, it continues to be the exciting, never ending journey it's meant to be."

Caleb Blanchard

"The science program at E.O. Smith gave me not only an advanced understanding of science, but greater critical thinking and problem solving skills. Due to the learning experience, I am prepared to pursue grant-funded undergraduate research, and are looking forward to pursuing a PhD in nursing research after graduation."

Tessa Weidig

"Science courses at EO Smith provided me with a foundation that helped me in my coursework in college. Not only did the AP credit allow me to take higher level courses during my time in college, but the learning experience inspired my interest in the sciences. The teachers were very caring and personally invested in my success. They spent many after school hours helping me and my peers’ complete projects and cultivate our interest in science in the process."

Anysia Lee

"I'm now working on a PhD in computational biology at Harvard. The love of science has definitely stuck with me :) I'd say that the EO Smith science curriculum prepared me extremely well for college science courses. I still remember competing in science bowl and hydrogen fuel cell car races on the weekends, and preparing for them after school in your classroom. I also still remember the frog and fetal pig dissections as incredible hands-on biology experiences, but maybe that's a little odd to say on the website."

Anna Green

"I'm currently in my senior year at UConn, where I'm getting dual degrees in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology and Landscape Architecture. "EO Smith science provided me with a solid foundation for all of my college science classes, through rigorous academics and talented teachers."

Weston Henry

Contact:

Diane Hannon, Director
Monday-Friday, 7:00 am-2:30 pm
860.487.0877 ext. 4400
[email protected]

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