One of the courses that has undergone change in Paly’s new 2008-2009 course catalog of studies is Biotechnology, whose extension into a year-long course may create funding complications.

The Biotechnology class allows students to research “bacterial genetics, recombinant DNA, and protein expression and analysis as well as societal issues arising from this new technology,” according to Paly’s course catalog. As Biotechnology is further described as “a progressive course that is much more lab intensive,” according to science teacher Ron Pruzan, much of the funding required for the class will be allocated towards lab equipment and other necessary materials.

Though Pruzan notes that no funding complications for this school year’s Biotechnology class arose, the next school year may bring about a different story.

“Funding potentially could be an issue, as the funding for Biotech is way beyond that of the normal budget,” Pruzan said.

Administrators are offering next school year’s Biotechnology class as a longer, year-long course because “that was the original plan, to offer Biotech as a semester in order to feel things out,” Pruzan said. “It’s easier for us to offer a semester as a skeleton, then expand.”

According to Pruzan, the class requires a minimum of $3,000 to $5,000 of funding per year. Pruzan says he has applied for grants in the past to generate funds for the current Biotechnology class, and hopes to take similar action for next school year’s year-long Biotechnology class.

One other possible challenge that the 2008-2009 Biotechnology class could face involves enrollment for the course. This year, according to Pruzan, although there were originally 30 students who signed up for the class, 16 of them remain enrolled in the course today.

Senior Charles Holland is one of those 16 students. Holland describes how the Biotechnology class is unique compared to Paly’s other offered science classes.

“Rather than having to cover a broad range of topics, it focuses on a lot of relevant ones,” Holland said of the Biotechnology class. “It’s a very different class, and certainly offers a different dynamic.”

Holland also notes the lab-centered nature of the course.

“I think I’ve done more experiments in that class in the three weeks I’ve taken it so far than I’ve done in an entire quarter in any of the other classes at Paly,” Holland said.

Pruzan similarly recognizes the intensive nature of the course, commending the frequent hands-on experimentation that students enrolled in Biotechnology are given the opportunity to perform.

“This is the way a science course should be,” Pruzan said.