Patterns in Nature
By Mr. Michael T. Roche and Ms. Sarah Gross

Have you ever found yourself intrigued by the ripples in sand, the spirals in a seashell, or the symmetry of a butterfly’s wings? From fractals to spirals, snowflakes to sound waves, grains of sand to the wings of a butterfly, patterns in nature surround us.  The Patterns in Nature course uses natural patterns, from Fibonnaci to chaos, to introduce students to different branches of science.  The course will welcome esteemed scientists and teachers at each class meeting, providing students with the opportunity to investigate patterns in astronomy, biology, chemistry, physics,  and other branches of science. The course will culminate in a student-directed project drawing on the areas that are of most interest to you. We will challenge you to use color, light, form, shape, shadow, and pattern to create and capture ephemeral, natural patterns and document your work with digital photography.

The course will be led by two High Technology High School faculty members, Mr. Michael T. Roche and Ms. Sarah Mulhern Gross. Classes will meet on Monday evenings from 6 to 8 starting January 4.
 

Mr. Michael T. Roche 
Science Faculty
High Technology High School

Mr. Roche is a research advisor and biology teacher at High Technology High School, located on the campus of Brookdale Community College in Lincroft, NJ.  He was recently honored with a Siemens Founders Award and fellowship that allowed him to work with a materials science research team at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.  Mr. Roche earned a B.S. in Environmental Science from Rutgers University and an M.A. in Environmental Studies from Montclair University.  He has served as a Director for the National Consortium for Specialized Secondary Schools of Mathematics, Science and Technology (NCSSSMST) and is the recipient of numerous grants and awards for excellence in science teaching.  Many of his summers have been spent in residence with students involved in environmental research projects, most recently serving as lead resident teacher for the first Joint Science and Technology Institute held in Aberdeen, Maryland.  In his spare time, Mr. Roche enjoys juggling, reading and creating rhythmic sounds with a variety of musical instruments.

Ms. Sarah Gross
English Faculty
High Technology High School

Mrs. Gross is an English teacher at High Technology High School, located on the Campus of Brookdale Community College in Lincroft.  She was selected as Teacher of the Year in January, 2013.  She recently achieved her National Board Certification and is a weekly contributor to The NYTimes Learning Network Blog.  Mrs. Gross sits on the advisory board of Reach A Reader, and has served as a panelist for the Cybils Awards.  She has a love of science, and is a member of the Monarch Teacher Network, through which she received a fellowship that gave her the opportunity to study the monarch butterflies in Michoacan, Mexico.  She is also on the advisory board for Curious Young Writers, a group that provides a platform for publishing student writing focused on non-traditional animal models in scientific research.  In her free time, she enjoys hiking, therapy dog work, and lure coursing with her two Australian Shepherds, as well as supporting the Rutgers Scarlet Knights.

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