{"670677":{"#nid":"670677","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech Study Abroad Program Uses Silk to Weave Together Science and Culture","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA visit to any new country would be incomplete without exploring the local culture and history. This summer, eight Georgia Tech students did some of their exploring of Lyon, France in an unlikely place: a biology lab.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe biology, neuroscience, and biochemistry undergraduates were enrolled in a special offering of the Cell and Molecular Biology Laboratory (BIOS 3451) as part of the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/chemistry.gatech.edu\/academics\/best-study-abroad-program\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech Biomolecular Engineering, Science, and Technology study abroad program in Lyon\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;(BEST-Lyon). As it was the first time the lab was offered as part of the program, the instructors took the budding course as an opportunity to try something new, aiming to mesh the lab with the local culture surrounding them while abroad. And for Lyon, that meant incorporating silk.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\u0022\u0022 height=\u0022277\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/silk-worm-selfie.png\u0022 width=\u0022207\u0022 \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Ch6\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThe students and instructors and some of the students in the BEST-Lyon program.\u0026nbsp;Back (left to right): Ebrahim Faizullabhoy, Alison Onstine, Reagan Hicks, Aaron Thompson, Shaun Deedy, Darsha Krishnamurthi. Middle: Jennifer Leavey, Manasi Oleti, Kareena Desai, Sonali Patel. Front: Anna Gibbs. (Photo: Anna Gibbs)\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/h6\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Ch2\u003EAn interwoven legacy\u003C\/h2\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u201cSilk is integral to the history of Lyon,\u201d says\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/biosciences.gatech.edu\/people\/jennifer-leavey\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EJennifer Leavey\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/strong\u003E, principal academic professional in the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/biosciences.gatech.edu\/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ESchool of Biological Sciences\u003C\/a\u003E, assistant dean for Faculty Mentoring in the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ECollege of Sciences\u003C\/a\u003E, and one of the co-instructors for the course. Since it was introduced to Lyon in the 1400\u2019s, silk production and the silk trade have been a driving force of the city\u2019s culture and economy, growing even more with the industrialization of the process in the 19th century. \u201cLyon grew up because of the silk trade and the looms for jacquard silk that were invented in Lyon.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe institution hosting the BEST-Lyon program itself \u2014\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cpe.fr\/en\/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ECPE Lyon\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;(\u00c9cole Sup\u00e9rieure de Chimie Physique \u00c9lectronique de Lyon), a graduate school specializing in chemical engineering \u2014 grew out of the chemical industry brought by the silk trade. As CPE Lyon is \u201cintimately linked to the history of silk production in this region of France,\u201d says\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EHeidi B\u00f6hnert\u003C\/strong\u003E, silkworms were the perfect topic for the new lab course \u200b\u200b\u201dsince it connects with the history of Lyon, the history of CPE and biotechnology, even microbiology.\u201d B\u00f6hnert is the director of International Relations and head of Life Sciences and Biotechnology at CPE Lyon.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EWanting to honor that legacy, Leavey and her co-instructor\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/biosciences.gatech.edu\/people\/alison-onstine\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlison Onstine\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, a laboratory manager in the School of Biological Sciences, decided to use silkworms as the model organism for the lab. \u201cWe\u0027ve never taught a cell molecular biology lab on one of the study abroad programs before,\u201d says Onstine, \u201cso, I think this was such an interesting opportunity for us to work in this local angle.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003ETo prepare the course, the instructors worked with recent alumna\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EDanielle Jones\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;(BCHEM \u002723) during the Spring semester to develop and troubleshoot research methods for students to use on the silkworms while abroad. Meanwhile, they coordinated with the staff of CPE Lyon to ensure everything would be ready for the student\u2019s arrival. CPE offered their enthusiastic support, raising silkworms from eggs that were donated to the program by\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.soierie-lyonnaise.com\/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EMaison Brochier Soieries\u003C\/a\u003E, a silk atelier in Lyon that has been in business since 1890.\u0026nbsp;The worms were fed fresh mulberry leaves collected from trees on the University of Lyon campus.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\u0022\u0022 height=\u0022233\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/silk-worms.png\u0022 width=\u0022233\u0022 \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Ch6\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThe silk worms and their cocoons. Many of the students were interested in why the cocoons \u2014 which are made comprised primarily of the silk proteins used to create silk fabric \u2014 were different colors. (Photo: Jennifer Leavey)\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/h6\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\u0022\u0022 height=\u0022233\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/alison-onstine.png\u0022 width=\u0022233\u0022 \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Ch6\u003E\u003Cem\u003EAlison Onsite prepares supplies for the lab at CPE-Lyon. (Photo: Jennifer Leavey)\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/h6\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Ch2\u003ECulture meets science abroad\u003C\/h2\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe instructional team designed the lab to be inquiry-based. During the three-week course, the students read literature on the biology of silk production, formulated their own research questions about the process, and designed experiments to test their questions.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe ideas that the students had for their independent projects were so ambitious and inspiring,\u201d said Onstine. Using various lab techniques taught during the class, the students explored how things like temperature, age, and diet impacted the silk proteins produced, the genes expressed by the worms, and more. \u201cIt was an incredible experience and an incredible group of students who were able to work with us to develop this lab course in ways that we hadn\u2019t anticipated at the start.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI really loved having this class over the summer, especially in Lyon, because we were kind of the \u2018guinea pig\u2019 lab for doing it on the study abroad program,\u201d said Biology undergraduate\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ESonali Patel\u003C\/strong\u003E. \u201cWe had the chance to take the reins on our own experiments, so that was really exciting. And especially working with the silkworms in the silkworm capital of France \u2014 that was also very exciting because we\u2019re kind of working with the environment, not just some random experiment.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis is the birthplace of silk growing and the silk industry in Europe,\u201d echoed\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EEbrahim Faizullabhoy\u003C\/strong\u003E, a Biology undergraduate and teaching assistant for the class. \u201cSo, it feels like you\u2019re doing something that\u2019s directly applicable, doing it in the place where it originated.\u201d\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nThe course is being offered again next summer, and is expected to continue to grow.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt is sometimes challenging for GT students to find study abroad programs that offer laboratory courses that are required for their degree program,\u201d says\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/chemistry.gatech.edu\/people\/cameron-tyson\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ECameron Tyson\u003C\/a\u003E, principal academic professional in the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/chemistry.gatech.edu\/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ESchool of Chemistry and Biochemistry\u003C\/a\u003E, assistant dean of Academic Programs in the College of Sciences, and director of the BEST-Lyon program. \u201cOver the past 10 years, we have continued to develop and expand course offerings in Lyon so that students can make timely progress towards their degree while also learning about history, culture, and economic activity of the region.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u201cLinking a laboratory course to place-based concepts is unusual,\u201d adds Leavey. \u201cWe hope that this will enhance learning, excite the students about conducting research, and make their study abroad experience special.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\u0022\u0022 height=\u0022311\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/sonali-patel.png\u0022 width=\u0022233\u0022 \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Ch6\u003E\u003Cem\u003EBiology undergraduate Sonali Patel dissects a silk worm to investigate the glands that produce silk and other proteins. (Photo Jennifer Leavey)\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/h6\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\u0022\u0022 height=\u0022311\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/ebrahim.png\u0022 width=\u0022233\u0022 \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Ch6\u003E\u003Cem\u003EEbrahim Faizullabhoy, a Biology undergraduate and teaching assistant for the class, holds up a silkworm cocoon and a silkworm atop a mulberry leaf, the silkworm\u0027s main source of food.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/h6\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Ch3\u003EApply to the BEST-Lyon Program\u003C\/h3\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech undergraduates are invited to apply for the Biomolecular Engineering, Science, and Technology (BEST) Study Abroad Program in Lyon, France. The BEST-Lyon program combines study at Georgia Institute of Technology, the premier science and engineering institution in the southern U.S., with a summer experience at CPE-Lyon University, a university rich in history in the chemical sciences, engineering, and technology. Participants can explore the inventions of Louis Pasteur, Victor Grignard, Pierre and Marie Curie while studying in France\u0027s \u0022second-city\u0022, Lyon.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe program is expected to run from mid-May to July, 2024. Learn more about\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ea.oie.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003Eeducation abroad\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;and apply by February 15, 2024.\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E_____________________________________\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003ESource of article:\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/study-abroad-program-uses-silk-weave-together-science-and-culture\u0022\u003ECollege of Sciences website\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThis summer, eight students in the Biomolecular Engineering, Science, and Technology study abroad program in Lyon, France (BEST-Lyon) were able to explore the rich cultural, scientific, and economic history of silk production in the city in an unlikely place: a biology lab.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"This summer, eight students in the Biomolecular Engineering, Science, and Technology study abroad program in Lyon, France were able to explore the history of silk production in the city in an unlikely place: a biology lab."}],"uid":"35787","created_gmt":"2023-10-26 12:55:51","changed_gmt":"2023-10-26 13:00:47","author":"tduong45","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2023-10-26T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2023-10-26T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"groups":[{"id":"170341","name":"Education Abroad"},{"id":"1297","name":"Office of International Education"}],"categories":[{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"},{"id":"141","name":"Chemistry and Chemical Engineering"},{"id":"42911","name":"Education"},{"id":"146","name":"Life Sciences and Biology"},{"id":"134","name":"Student and Faculty"}],"keywords":[{"id":"178736","name":"BEST Study Abroad Program"},{"id":"173604","name":"BEST Lyon"},{"id":"3355","name":"Lyon"},{"id":"192249","name":"cos-community"},{"id":"182200","name":"biology labs"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWriter:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nAudra Davidson\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nCommunications Officer II\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EContributor:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nJennifer Leavey\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nAssistant Dean for Faculty Mentoring\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEditor and Contact:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\n\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:jess.hunt@cos.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EJess Hunt-Ralston\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nDirector of Communications\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nCollege of Sciences at Georgia Tech\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}