This school year, Aliso Niguel has a Biology Interest Club that is quickly gaining popularity this 2023-2024 school year. Its president, Amira Salazar (12), emphasized that the club’s goal is to help others understand biology, and hopefully inspire an appreciation for the subject. They meet in Room 704 during lunch on Thursdays every single week.
Salazar is working closely with the club’s advisor, Mrs. Bhaskar. The meetings consist of test preparation and presentations about various topics in biology. Salazar has dedicated hours to creating slideshows, study guides and lessons for students of all grade levels.
The club welcomes everyone, no matter if they are in regular Biology, Honors Biology, AP Biology or even if they are not enrolled in a biology class at all. Anyone with an interest in the field is welcome to join.
Salazar has demonstrated an unwavering passion for biology, seen through receiving a 5 on the AP Biology exam and working in labs over the summer. She has also taken a summer course at Stanford, with classes focused on biology and research.
Other executive members in the club are Valerie Valentin (12), Zara Ikram (12), and Rotem Dvir (12). They also have a strong love for biology and want to support other students in their learning journey.
The treasurer, Rotem Dvir (12), says, “I chose to be involved in the Biology Interest Club as an officer because I really think that creating a space to review biology and help students with the material in AP Biology is beneficial to students. My hopes for the future of the club is that we expand the club to include more people because I really believe a large group of students helping one another with the material for AP Biology will create a level of deeper understanding and passion for this amazing class.”
The meeting on Oct. 5 was a test review for AP Biology’s second unit test. Salazar created a slideshow with sample free-response questions and a study guide to prepare students as best as possible. She implemented resources from the AP Biology textbook as well as prior knowledge from her biology classes. The entire lunch period was focused on answering any questions and giving an overview of what students need to know.
Salazar mentioned that she wants to pursue a career related to biology in the future. She stated that her ideal career involves in-depth research and potentially teaching in areas of interest. Many hours have been poured into the Biology Interest Club, and members heavily encourage others to join in order to learn more about biology with like-minded students.
For those unsure about pursuing an interest in biology, the field has countless real-world applications. The study directly relates to other fields such as agriculture, medicine, quality of food and beverage, the environment and cosmetics.
The club’s future plans are to do test reviews and explore topics that students find interesting. Biology covers a vast range of subtopics such as viruses, diseases, evolution, genetics and much more, so the club will be busy with lots of presentations and activities every week.
