Socrates Fellows Our Projects Biology Samuel Lasse
After graduating cum laude in Molecular Genetics from Ohio State University, Samuel Lasse entered UCSD’s graduate program in Cell Biology in 2005 where he is researching cell-to-cell adhesion, a biological process essential to organisms maintaining multi-cellular life.
In explaining cell adhesion, Samuel, says “it is important to remember that our bodies are not a homogeneous mixture of different cell types, but are portioned into tissues of similar cell types that function together. Cells with similar adhesive molecules preferentially group together, thus forming a cohesive tissue.”
About Socrates"I have learned new and creative ways of reaching students, much more so than I ever did as a TA because we received instruction, mentoring and most importantly informed feedback after our teaching sessions."
Passionate about bringing the excitement of science into the classroom, Samuel feels that high school students often become bored and disinterested in science because its relevance to everyday life is frequently not conveyed to them. “American high school classrooms often rely too much on the memorization of information that bear little relation to every day life and lacks a connection to the true process of research that occurs within university walls,” Samuel believes. The result is disinterest for many students who could potentially enter research careers, and another result is science illiteracy for the general citizenry who increasingly need basic knowledge of science to make prudent electoral and everyday decisions in life, he says.
“The Socrates Fellowship offers a unique opportunity to enhance the scientific education at high schools by exploring more creative ways to reach students,” says Samuel, who conducts his graduate research under the mentorship of Dr. Colin Jamora, and plans to pursue a career in academia himself. In addition, Samuel feels, “working side by side with a high school teacher in the Socrates program will provide me with a teaching mentor as well. From this, I hope to gain a better understanding of how to teach to the strengths of all students in a heterogeneous group of learning styles.”
