FDA Campaign Aims to Educate US Public on Biotechnology and Food

Steven A. Field, MD, is a respected Tampa, Florida, educator who teaches a wide range of science-related subjects with the School District of Hillsborough County. Among the advanced courses that Steven A. Field, MD, has taught Florida students are those centering on earth and space science, as well as biotechnology. 

A current U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) initiative is focused on providing consumers with basic education on the safety of food products and animal feed that utilize biotechnology in their makeup and production. 

A focus is on clearing up “misinformation and half-truths,” with more than half of Americans surveyed believing that, in general, genetically modified (GM) foods are unsafe for consumption. In tandem with this, approximately 80 percent of American adults are in support of mandatory labels for GMOs and on foods that contain DNA. 

The global scientific consensus is increasingly one that believes that the safety of genetically engineered (GE) crops is similar to that of non-genetically engineered crops. For this reason, the FDA plans to present the best available evidence within the context of science-based educational documents that shed light on the positive environmental, nutritional, economic, and humanitarian aspects of agricultural biotechnology.

Proper Chair Setup for Optimal Ergonomics

Steven A. Field, MD, is a respected Tampa, Florida, high school teacher who has taught a variety of science subjects within the School District of Hillsborough County. In addition to his role as a Florida educator, Steven A. Field, MD, has a background in human ergonomic research that led to a number of national presentations and corporate ergonomic committee appointments.

Within an office environment, static postures and sitting for prolonged periods of time is associated with weight issues, circulatory and cardiovascular conditions, and low back disorders. Repetitive motion and awkward positions can also result in musculoskeletal conditions such as epicondylitis and carpal tunnel syndrome.

A Cornell University study brought focus to task seating and the major issue of standard desktops being designed to accommodate the elbow height of people who are 6’4” tall. With individuals often struggling to comfortably reach computer setups, a number of health risks arise related to sitting high in the chair and shrugging the shoulders.

Properly adjusting one's task chair involves keeping the backrest unlocked and tensioned in such a way that flexible movement is accommodated. In addition, the seat pan should be set up to allow two inches or more of clearance between the back of the knees and the edge of the seat. The arm rest should be set up no higher than elbow height when seated.

Another concern is that the ideal position of the keyboard is not on the desktop, but on the lap, in the same position as a laptop would be held. In cases where the keyboard is on the desktop, it should be positioned as close to the body as possible, with an articulating keyboard support used to provide the proper angle.

The Soil-Less Hydroponics Gardening System

Based in Tampa, Florida, Steven A. Field, MD, is a retired physician with a background as an educator with the School District of Hillsborough County. Over the past decade, he has taught Florida students a wide range of science subjects such as AP biology, health sciences, and earth and space science. In his biotechnology course, Steven A. Field, MD, has taught subjects ranging from plant DNA extraction to hydroponics.

Defined by soil-less gardening, hydroponics involves employing mineral-rich water solutions and other nutrients in place of a conventional soil medium. Many plants thrive with their roots in water and can grow as much as 50 percent faster in this manner. As the water within hydroponic systems is conserved and reused, there is less need for a fresh water supply. At the same time, the indoor nature of most hydroponic systems means that vegetables, herbs, and fruits can be harvested year round.

A key to success with a hydroponic system involves selecting plant varieties such as strawberries, leafy greens, tomatoes, and cucumbers that welcome moisture and have limited size potential. Another important element is selecting the proper nutrient mix. The primary nutrients of potassium, nitrogen, and magnesium are diluted in filtered water that is then given to the plants. Common secondary nutrients are also added and typically include manganese, iron, copper, zinc, boron, and molybdenum.

The Non-Scientific Benefits of Taking Part in Science Fairs

Previously a medical consultant in Tampa, Florida, Steven A. Field, MD, has served in various professional medical organizations including the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Currently a science teacher based in Tampa, Florida, Steven A. Field, MD, is the chief judge of biological sciences at the annual Hillsborough County Science Fair. 

There are a number of benefits to participating in science fairs. Surprisingly, many of them are not science-related.

In 2012, Synopsys Outreach Foundation, an organization that has supported over a million individual science projects in 600 schools across California, hired educational research firm WestEd to conduct a survey on the impact science projects had on individual students. More than 1,600 students took part in the study. What researchers found was interesting. 

While students reported that taking part in the study helped them improve their scientific investigation and analysis skills, many reported a substantial improvement in other skills such as communication, collaboration, and project management. In fact, based on a four point rating scale, they reported significant improvements in these skills, frequently moving from low and very low ratings to good and very good. 

If that wasn’t enough, top performers in high school science fairs stand a better chance of getting admitted into top colleges. A 2005 Intel Science Talent Search (now known as the Regeneron Science Talent Search) found that the top high school competitions created a differentiation in college applications. For example, finalists of the Intel Talent Search competition typically went on to attend institutions such as Harvard, Princeton, MIT, Stanford, Cornell, Yale, Duke, and Columbia.

Ways to Keep Students Engaged in the Classroom

A graduate of the University of South Florida and Hahnemann Medical College, Steven A. Field, MD, serves as a teacher for the School District of Hillsborough County in Tampa, Florida. Steven A. Field, MD, has held this position for several years and teaches high school students about such subjects as biology, health sciences, and space science.

All teachers are tasked with keeping their students engaged in their lessons and in learning. Below are a few ways to promote student engagement in the classroom:

Connect it to real life: illustrating how lesson materials connect to real life are a great way of showing students why the material is important. It can easily be done by using specific examples from everyday life or by linking their lessons to regular routines, such as calculating tax or washing the hands. Further, teachers who use culturally relevant materials help students stay engaged and interested in school-based learning.

Use assessments to adjust teaching: at the beginning of each year, teachers can have each student complete an assessment to figure out where their current knowledge is. Over the course of the school year, these assessments can be regularly used to see where students may still be struggling and where teaching approaches may need to be changed. Assessments are also a great tool for holding students accountable for their education and can serve as a motivator.

Give students a choice: by allowing students to choose how they learn, teachers help them feel more involved and engaged in the classroom. These choices can revolve around how students learn as opposed to what they learn. Students should be able to provide feedback about the pace of the classroom in accordance with how comfortable they feel and choose how they prefer to work on classroom projects.

What is Pickleball?

Steven A. Field MD, science teacher for the School District of Hillsborough County, Florida, donates much of his time to helping his students and participating in various local events and charities. When granted some spare time, Steven A. Field MD, enjoys playing pickleball, a lesser-known but accessible and fun game for players of all ages.

With humble beginnings dating back to 1965, pickleball was created as a game that the whole family could play together. Combining badminton, tennis and Ping-Pong, it can be played both on indoor and outdoor courts, it uses a short net and a paddle, along with a plastic ball. Played as doubles or singles, pickleball now holds tournaments nationwide, and places to play have doubled since 2010.

The sport is played on a court roughly the size of those used for badminton, and played similarly to tennis, though serves are only allowed to be made underhanded and only the currently serving team can score. The game is played until 11 points, with games lasting less than 25 minutes in most cases. Since it is a smaller court than those used in tennis, and there is less chance of injury with such a small ball, children can also participate in the sport.

Pickleball - An Obscure Game Popularized in the US and Canada

Florida-based Hillsborough Community College biotechnology instructor Steven A. Field, MD brings more than 30 years of experience in the science field to his position. Beyond his activities in the science community, Steven A. Field MD enjoys playing a game known as pickleball. 

Pickleball is a paddle sport that combines elements from tennis, ping-pong, and badminton. Played on a badminton-sized court, the sport utilizes a modified tennis court and requires players to hit a holed-plastic ball with paddles. The game uses simple rules in order to encourage participation from players of all ages, such as requiring the ball to ounce once before players can hit it and setting the net lower than in other paddle games. Teams take turn serving like in tennis, although teams can only earn points during their serve. Games are played as doubles or singles and continue until one team reaches 11 points. 

Creators Joel Pritchard, Barney McCallum, and Bill Bell developed Pickleball in the 1960s during a short ferry ride from Seattle, Washington, with the intent of entertaining their children, who had grown bored of their usual summertime activities. Misconception over the origin of the game’s name remains widespread and rumors suggest the Pritchards named the game after the family dog. However, the family asserts that the dog was named after the game and the true inspiration came from their maritime pursuits.

Joseph P. Kennedy Foundation Fellowship Urges Disabled Advocacy

Florida resident Steven A. Field, MD, is currently a health sciences teacher with the Hillsborough County, Tampa school district. A graduate of the University of South Florida and the MD program at Hahnemann Medical College, Steven A. Field is also a recipient of the Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation Fellowship.

Founded in 1946, the Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation is a charitable organization that advocates for the rights of persons with intellectual disabilities. The Foundation implemented the Public Policy Fellowship Program in 1980 to support this goal. The one-year program in Washington, D.C. is designed to prepare individuals for leadership roles in public policy by providing experience in public administration. It also familiarizes fellows with the work of the disability community and requires that fellows demonstrate experience in one of several areas - 

1.Advocacy to improve the lives of individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities
2.Efforts to improve community services for disabled individuals in any service area, ranging from health care and employment to education and housing
3.Development, implementation, or support of training programs designed for disabled individuals or those around them
4.Engagement in efforts to empower disabled individuals, related to either their own life choices or to influencing public policy at the national or state levels