Fall River Educator Returns From Prestigious "Siemens Teachers as Researchers" Program

Dennis Durkin, a teacher at BMC Durfee High School in Fall River, will return to the classroom this year a ‘STAR’ after participating in the prestigious “Siemens Teachers as Researchers” (STARs) fellowship program.

 Durkin was part of an exclusive group of 40 teachers from across the country selected to learn new and exciting tools that will help his students gain a more practical understanding and stronger appreciation for the use of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) concepts in their daily lives. The program allowed him to participate in an immersive research program at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Oak Ridge, Tenn.

This research program was sponsored by the Siemens Foundation and administered by Discovery Education and the Oak Ridge Associated Universities. 

While at Oak Ridge, Durkin and his fellow educators worked with scientist Barbara Evans to help produce and characterize plant biomass as part of a research project that used neutron scattering and computer simulation to examine the structure of plant cell walls and plant cell wall deconstruction.  The project goal was to find better, faster ways to convert plant biomass to biofuels. The teachers also monitored the effects of cultivation conditions on the photosynthetic activity of the grasses and microalgae.

"It was an exhilarating experience to be at Oak Ridge National Laboratory with a truly exceptional group of dedicated and creative teachers and researchers.  Being able to work with Dr. Evans has sparked a multitude of research ideas for me to use in my classroom this upcoming school year,” Durkin said.