SCIENCE
CSI: Greenwich
This course is a survey of major topics in forensic sciences, including vocabulary and techniques commonly used and referred to on TV shows like CSI, CSI: Miami, Law & Order, Bones, etc. It is a discussion-based class with lab experiences including, but not limited to: fingerprinting, blood analysis, DNA analysis, hair and fiber analysis, profiling and forensic psychiatry.
Instructor: Derek Hruska
Derek Hruska will begin his ninth year at Brunswick School this fall. He attended medical school in Colorado and was trained in Her Majesty’s Coast Guard in Great Britain. Derek studied, during clinical rotations, psychiatric evaluation and contextual pathology and has a keen interest in investigative science. As part of his Coast Guard responsibilities, he investigated the many details of numerous emergency scenes. He is passionately interested in forensic science and forensic psychiatry and is just the right man for the job of teaching this subject to curious young people.
Fundamentals of Biology
This course is designed to bolster the knowledge and introduce vocabulary that students will encounter upon entering their biology class in the fall semester. Topics that we will cover include, but are not exclusively limited to:
1. The chemistry of life including an introduction to organic molecules
2. Cellular structure and function
3. Biochemistry of photosynthesis and cellular respiration
4. An introduction to DNA, RNA and rudimentary genetics
5. Cell growth and division
This is a wonderful opportunity to enter Biology and “hit the ground running”. Familiarity with the ideas and vocabulary will certainly make the first semester of any biology class more manageable and enjoyable! Additionally, the students will be instructed on how best to approach the organization and review of material that will serve them beyond chemistry and in subsequent science courses.
Instructor: Derek Hruska
Derek Hruska will begin his ninth year at Brunswick School this fall. He attended medical school in Colorado and was trained in Her Majesty’s Coast Guard in Great Britain. Derek studied, during clinical rotations, psychiatric evaluation and contextual pathology and has a keen interest in investigative science. As part of his Coast Guard responsibilities, he investigated the many details of numerous emergency scenes. He is passionately interested in forensic science and forensic psychiatry and is just the right man for the job of teaching this subject to curious young people.
Fundamentals of Chemistry
This course is designed to bolster the knowledge and introduce vocabulary that students will encounter upon entering their chemistry class in the fall semester. Topics that we cover include, but are not exclusively limited to, matter, reactions, scientific measurement and its notation, historical discovery and structure of the atom, significance of electrons and chemical bonding, the periodic table and its trends and relevance and an introduction to chemical naming and formulae.
This is a wonderful opportunity to enter Chemistry and “hit the ground running”. Familiarity with the ideas and vocabulary will certainly make the first semester of any chemistry class more manageable and fun! Additionally, the students will be instructed on how best to approach the organization and review of material that will serve them beyond chemistry and in subsequent science courses.
Instructor: Derek Hruska
Derek Hruska will begin his ninth year at Brunswick School this fall. He attended medical school in Colorado and was trained in Her Majesty’s Coast Guard in Great Britain. Derek studied, during clinical rotations, psychiatric evaluation and contextual pathology and has a keen interest in investigative science. As part of his Coast Guard responsibilities, he investigated the many details of numerous emergency scenes. He is passionately interested in forensic science and forensic psychiatry and is just the right man for the job of teaching this subject to curious young people.
Fundamentals of Physics
This course will prepare students for their high school physics course by introducing many of the major concepts they will encounter in a full year course. One of the biggest hurdles for first year physics students is the time it takes to break through many of our misconceptions about the physical world. By the time many students have replaced their incorrect notions about topics like gravity, force, and energy, the instructor is two chapters further into the book. By introducing these topics ahead of time, this course will allow students to work through the material presented in their year long course with the advantage of having seen many concepts before.
Instructor: Robertson Follansbee
Rob finished his first year at Brunswick School this spring after getting his masters in private school leadership from Columbia University. He taught previously as a teaching fellow at Phillips Academy Andover, and then for three years at the Taft School in Watertown, CT. Rob’s interest in high school science and math stems from his work in astrophysics at Williams College, and his enjoyment of working in academic environments with engrossed and inquisitive students.