Biophysicist trades lab for classroom

Science teacher Christine Thompson incorporates her former experience as a biophysicist into her classroom.

Katie Lawless

Science teacher Christine Thompson incorporates her former experience as a biophysicist into her classroom.

Katie Lawless, Staff Writer

Christine Thompson has worked at Algonquin for twelve years with several qualifications from various universities, and she previously worked at the Worcester Foundation of Biomedical Research as a biophysicist. She currently teaches Biotech and honors and AP Biology, using her past to aid in teaching.

Thompson believes her old job helps her teach because of the lab environment she experienced.

“I have anecdotal stories I’ll share about people in my lab, or things that I’ve done, or people I’ve talked to,” Thompson said. “I’ve met a lot of brilliant people.”

Being in the field helps her bring reality to the lessons she teaches. She’s familiar with how the science applies in an actual lab, and uses this knowledge to educate her students accordingly.

“It has a lot of influence because when I design a unit I always think ‘Okay, this is what the textbook says, but what is science really about?’” Thompson said.

Thompson also thinks that the constantly shifting aspect of her past work influences how she teaches. She’s able to provide a range of different lessons and activities to maintain interest, while still keeping up with class grades and curriculum.

“Here I come in, I teach every day, and I try to make it different because I like things that are different,” Thompson said.

Her coworker, Chemistry teacher Ken Wieder, has also noticed that her work has benefited from her past. He believes that she’s a capable teacher, and that she uses her education wisely.

“She uses that past research experience in the classroom to the great advantage of her students,” Wieder said.

In addition to the scientific fieldwork, Thompson notes that the paperwork she completed as a biophysicist also helped her in the long run. This skill helps her keep her classroom equipment up to date while still having enough for each student.

“The grant writing for my other job, I brought that in, so now I have almost 6,000 dollars worth of equipment from grants that I’ve written,” Thompson said.

As a woman in a STEM field, Thompson also faced some difficulties, but saw them as a way to better herself.

“It was a good challenge, because you learn a lot about yourself, and [about] self-confidence,” Thompson said.