Lakeside School

For many classes at Lakeside, the ultimate step in students’ learning is sharing their work with an audience of appreciative peers and teachers. This year, students in four advanced science electives (Ecological Studies, Neurochemistry, Modern Physics & Electronics, and Molecular & Cellular Biology) shared their final projects in a poster session at the Lakeside Science Symposium.

A key part of academic conferences and annual meetings, poster sessions provide an opportunity for researchers, at many different stages of their careers, to share and discuss their work with others in their field. “If students move forward in science, they will almost certainly be participating in poster sessions…[so] getting a chance to practice here will definitely be helpful,” shared Upper School Science Department Head Devin Parry, who also teaches Molecular & Cellular Biology. But there is value in the exercise for all students. “It’s not just science communication: Having to communicate something complex in a way that is understandable is a great skill…. It’s also an opportunity to be curious and ask questions. Showing an interest in what other people have done is a fundamental human skill.”

Curious to learn more? Listen to Upper School Science Department Head Devin Parry talk in detail about why the science symposium is a perfect activity for senior spring; the work students did in preparation; and how the work is full of opportunities for resilience and unstructured problem-solving.