Sydni Patrick

Today at the Martha's Table Winter Coat Event, we got to give out hundreds of warm coats to those in need. By emphasizing homeostasis and thermoregulation which are crucial mechanisms that aid the human body in maintaining a steady internal temperature. Our coat drive links community service to biology. The body has to work harder during the colder months to control its temperature through mechanisms including vasoconstriction and shivering. We can lessen heat loss and shield people from the consequences of severe cold by gathering and giving coats to those in need. This project shows how biological ideas may be used outside of the classroom while enabling us to positively influence our communities.

At the Ghosts Give Back event, me and other students learned valuable information about the pre- med track such as which courses, teachers, and the order in which to take our pre-recs. We bounced ideas off of other students and ended up having really helpful conversations. In the end, we made boo- bags with candy to hand out to other students. Candy contains sugars that the body can break down into glucose. Cells use glucose during cellular respiration to produce ATP, ATP provides energy for cellular activities which helps to maintain homeostasis in the body

While volunteering at Marthas Table, myself and other Howard University students had the opportunity to pack bags full of fresh produce in order to distribute them to underprivileged people and families. We sorted vegetables and fruits together and dry goods (rice, potatoes, and beans) to make sure there was a good variety of goods for each customer. In biology, these goods are perfect for much needed nutrition and keeping our bodies in homeostasis. The potatoes and rice are a great source of carbohydrates while the veggies are nutrient dense.