Patricia Ligon
I am a chemistry teacher at Broughton High School in Raleigh, North Carolina developing this curriculum through
a Kenan Fellowship from North Carolina State University in partnership with the North Carolina Department of
Public Instruction. My mentors in this partnership are Dr. Stephan Franzen and Dr. Maria Oliver-Hoyo, professors
in the Chemistry Department at North Carolina State University.
Quarter 1: Pharmacology
I received my Master's degree in Physiology and Pharmacology from Florida State University in 1970. I worked in Dr. Michael
Greenberg's Physiology and Pharmacology research laboratory studying cardioactive agents in molluscan tissues for four years.
In 2000, I became involved in the Pharmacology Education Partnership (PEP) at Duke
University with Dr. Rochelle
Schwartz-Bloom and Dr. Myra Halpin from North Carolina School of Science and Math. The Chemistry Applications curriculum
includes parts of the PEP curriculum and the NIH module "The Brain: Understanding Neurobiology through the Study of
Addiction". These experiences with Physiology and Pharmacology provide the background for part of this curriculum.
Quarter 2: Biotechnology
In 1973, I completed the coursework for a Ph.D in Biochemistry and Biophysics at Texas A & M University in College Station,
Texas. At Texas A & M University, I worked and studied with Dr. Gerard O'Donovan on Aspartate Transcarbamylase, an enzyme
involved in pyrimidine biosynthesis. In addition, I worked in the Genetics department at North Carolina State University with
Dr. Stephanie Curtis for seven years studying regulation of nitrogen fixation genes in Cyanobacteria. Additionally, I have
completed biochemistry and biotechnology courses at North Carolina State University and on the "Destiny Bus". The Destiny
Bus which is based at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has as its origins, "The City Lab" outreach program
from Boston University School of Medicine (http://www.bumc.bu.edu). The Destiny Bus
(http://www.unc.edu/destiny/whoweare.htm) travels as an outreach program
to bring many student and teacher friendly biotechnology activities to the middle schools and high schools in
North Carolina. These experiences in Biochemistry and Biotechnology contribute to this curriculum.
Quarter 3 and 4: Forensics
The second semester Forensics course uses the background information and lab activities developed in the first semester
(Pharmacology and Biotechnology) to actively involve students in real life scenarios often focusing on chemistry aspects of
forensic science. Previously, I have completed units on forensics within my basic physical science and chemistry classes.
The students involved in these activities have thoroughly enjoyed solving these crimes using scientific methodology. A large
part of crime laboratory work involves drug analysis and DNA technology to identify victims and criminals. The current
interest in forensics within the classroom and with the general public motivates and enables students to connect high school
science experiences to the real world.
Contributors:
I would like to offer a special thanks to the following contributors:
Stefan Franzen, North Carolina State University
Maria Oliver-Hoyo, North Carolina State University
Ruben Carbonell, Kenan Institute
Deborah Mangum, Kenan Institute
Cynthia M. Malecha, Kenan Institute
Danielle Seneschal, Kenan Institute
Ann Craddock, Kenan Institute
Courtney Thornton, Kenan Institute
Diane Payne, principal, Broughton High School
William Tucci, Department of Public Instruction
Rochelle Schwartz-Bloom, the PEP project, Duke University
Myra Halpin, the PEP project, Duke University
Blake Lucas, Kenan Institute, web builder
Ben Huckaby, Kenan Institute, senior web builder
This project was made possible from funding by the National Science Foundation 523538 CO
2 Grant
Kenan Fellows projects are supported in part by grants from
NSF, Z Smith Reynolds, IBM, and other partners. (Click
here for a complete list of partners.)
