Northern Borders / PTECH Career & Workforce Exploration November 2018 Field Trip

(1.2.2019) Northern Borders PTECH students traveled to Saranac Lake, NY on Monday, November 19th for their second Career and Workforce Exploration field trip. This field trip introduced students to a variety of careers that the community will need to fill in the future, and the competence and skill expected of a professional in the workforce.

PTECH students traveled to Saranac Lake, NY on Monday, November 19th for their second Career and Workforce Exploration field trip. Stops included: the Trudeau Center, a not-for-profit research institute with a world-renowned reputation for research and development in immunity to infectious disease, the Saranac Lake Laboratory Museum, and the Ampersand Biosciences biotechnology lab. The students learned a great deal about Dr. Edward Livingston Trudeau and his work with Tuberculosis, and experienced a variety of careers in research, biotechnology and animal care.

November’s field trip included several stops in Saranac Lake that introduced students to not only the existing biotechnology careers and work being done in the area, but the history of biotechnology and the part that the Saranac Lake community played in the treatment of tuberculosis.

The first stop for the students was the Trudeau Center, a not-for-profit research institute with a world-renowned reputation for research and development in immunity to infectious disease. Here the students took a tour and learned about the history of the Trudeau Center which included the story of Dr. Edward Livingston who devoted himself to the research and treatment of tuberculosis in Saranac Lake after he was diagnosed himself in 1873. Trudeau Center staff also talked with the students about careers at the Center and the specialized research and development pursuits of their biotechnologists and animal care staff.

The next stop for the students was the Saranac Lake Laboratory Museum. The Saranac Lake Laboratory was designed for Dr. Edward Livingston Trudeau and was the first lab built in the U.S. for the research of tuberculosis. Historic Saranac Lake painstakingly restored the building and opened it as a museum in 2009.

Students were introduced to a second biotechnology lab on their third stop, Ampersand Biosciences. This lab has over 15 years of experience in the development and manufacturing of immunoassay kits. Students toured this facility and spoke with the biotechnologists about their careers and the biochemistry they perform in their jobs every day.

After a full morning of field trip stops, the students worked up an appetite. North Country Community College opened their cafeteria to the PTECH students to eat their lunch before heading back to school.

The students and staff at Northern Borders Academy would like to extend a special thank you to the staff at the Trudeau Center, Saranac Lake Laboratory Museum, Ampersand Biosciences, and North Country Community College for their help with making their November outing a huge success!

To keep up to date on the Northern Borders program, visit their website (http://www.fehb.org/NBA/NBA-PTECH.html) or Facebook page (www.facebook.com/Northern-Borders-Academy).