Governor's School, Roche partner for program

The S.C. Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics’ college-level research program for students has been taken to the next level with the creation of the Research Exchange Scholars Program: A Roche International Science Education Initiative.

The S.C. Governor’s School has partnered with Roche Carolina, as well as Roche Mannheim and the Johanna Wittum School, both in Germany, to offer students an opportunity to conduct college-level science research in the areas of applied microbiology, botany, cytophysiology and neurophysiology during a six-week international exchange internship.

Three students traveled to Germany on June 5 to begin their studies and learn about the culture and language of their local host families: Emily Harruff of Columbia, Lily Elsner of Due West and Alice Chang of Summerville.

Three students from Germany’s Johanna Wittum school, a high school specializing in biotechnology education, will come to South Carolina in August, to work as research interns with University of South Carolina professors whose projects cover a broad spectrum of topics in cell and molecular biology.

Those students will stay at the Governor’s School to experience the local culture and the Hartsville campus.

Governor’s School President Dr. Murray Brockman said the international research program, which is in its pilot year, will be a remarkable experience for all students, especially those that are going to travel.

“They will learn from our kids when they return and then they will learn from the German students who will be here in residence in Hartsville as they do their research at (the University of South Carolina),” Brockman said. “I think it’s going to be tremendously beneficial to the students.”

Brockman said Roche Carolina’s commitment to the program has been tremendous.

“We just can’t say enough good things about them (Roche Carolina) for their farsightedness in giving us this grant to fund this exchannge,” Brockman said. “They have been exceptional and we’re grateful to them.”

Pete Mazzaroni, Roche Carolina’s manager of public affairs, said Roche is excited about the opportunity to colloborate with its affilliates in Germany and help offer the program to new pioneering talent.

“We recognize that the Gov. School’s (for Science and Mathematics) has some of the brightest minds in science and math in our high school students around the state of South Carolina,” Mazzaroni said. “We see this as an opportunity to help facilitate an exchange program, recognizing that this is our next generation of pioneering talent and really just to elevate our commitment to helping develop a competitive work force in South Carolina.”

Scientific research isn’t new for students atteding the Governor’s School. The school’s Summer Program for Research Interns is a graduation requirement for all rising seniors

During the six-week internship, students work with scientist from such research universities as the University of South Carolina, Clemson University and the Medical University of South Carolina to work in state-of-the-art laboratories as well as corporate labs.

Students have the chance to research topics of a specific interest such as cancer research, biomedical experiments or alternate fuels.

On the Web

S.C. Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics, www.scgssm.org

Roche Carolina, www.rochecarolina.com