Biomedical magnet debuts at Mebane Middle School in Alachua this 2022-23 school year
By Drew Mortier
The grass roots are growing even deeper in the City of Alachua this school year.
A new biomedical magnet program called the Biomedical Mustangs begins at Mebane Middle School this 2022-23 school year. This magnet encompasses everything from forensic science to biomechanics to bioprocessing. It arms students with all the knowledge they need to enter the Institute of Biotechnology at Santa Fe High School in Alachua, and eventually join the workforce in the thriving bioscience industry. This, in turn, produces a steady stream of local talent.
This new magnet was born out of the close relationship between the City of Alachua’s educational institutions and the local biotech community. The world-class incubator Sid Martin Biotech is located in Alachua’s Progress District, along with numerous life sciences and biotech companies. Sid Martin specializes in high-tech equipment and other resources, helping startups turn ideas into successful ventures. Ultimately, this industry generates tens of millions of dollars of revenue locally each year.
Here is what the Biomedical Mustangs magnet is all about, plus a little inside info from Dr. Stella Arduser, the Alachua County Public Schools Supervisor of Instructional Materials & Teacher Learning Resources.
The Biomedical Magnet Program at Mebane Middle School
Mebane’s new program will place students in a fun learning environment, providing the kind of knowledge and skills that translate to enrollment in the Institute of Biotechnology. In turn, the Institute is then enhanced by incoming students who are already one step ahead of the game.
According to Arduser, Mebane’s biomedical magnet is a “big deal.”
“We’re keeping up with technology growth and the biomedical and biotechnology community because it’s so thriving,” she said. “There are no magnet programs outside of Santa Fe high school within [Alachua]. We also want to make sure that they’re getting the best educational opportunities, and so we’re closing the opportunity gap in Alachua by putting a magnet there.”
Getting with the program — what will students learn?
Beginning with sixth grade, magnet students will open their minds to exciting science and real-world applications. Here is a brief rundown of the curriculum:
Sixth Grade Detectives: Students will conduct their own forensic investigations, including the gathering of evidence. They determine what, exactly, went down at a mock crime scene. They will analyze DNA and identify suspects. At the end of the course, students apply what they have learned to a final crime scene investigation.
Seventh Grade Anatomists: Students will get a glimpse into biomechanics, the study of the human body’s action, movement patterns and applied force. Armed with new knowledge about the intersection of physics and medicine, seventh graders will design a prosthetic device.
Eighth Grade Researchers: Students will dig into what is known as “bioprocessing,” the use of a living things (a cell, virus, etc.) to create desired products like therapeutic stem cells or vaccines. With two prior years of related study behind them, eighth graders will investigate the human body, diseases, vaccines, aspects of cloning and more.