iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Dan Williams @willida25.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

Shelter Island Science HS Students went into our elementary school over the past few days to share our excitement over #ArtemisII launch tonight! They were "Artemis Ambassadors," and now lots of excited kids are watching tonight! Science Inspiration! @nysmtp.bsky.social @stanys.bsky.social

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Dan Williams @willida25.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

NYSSLS in Bloom! STANYS Spring Conference is starting NOW! So happy to see so many old friends! Hope to see many of you at my session at 10 am on Microplastics @nysmtp.bsky.social @nyseagrant.bsky.social

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Dan Williams @willida25.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

Ques for c. elegans researchers One of my students noticed a weird worm that appeared to be leaking all of its guts out of the vulva. We'd expect to see this out anus,this might be important based on SS work, but we weren't sure if it was common. Pls help Tnx @nysmtp.bsky.social @stanys.bsky.social

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Dan Williams @willida25.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

IMHO HS Sci Research should not be about contests or prizes. The learning curve for @nanoporetech.com sequencing has been steep. We wanted a quick easy way to go from FASTQ to Phred, so a student coded one! -Research INSPIRING ss to EXPLORE & SOLVE problems @nysmtp.bsky.social @dnalc.bsky.social

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Dan Williams @willida25.bsky.social · 26/02/2026

TFW, you get a student excited about a project. She works on it for 6 mos. gets GREAT results & only then you realize you gave her the WRONG protein file to simuate binding. She's very excited about doing the REAL project now! -Learning experience @rcsbpdb.bsky.social @nysmtp.bsky.social

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Dan Williams @willida25.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

HS student using Pioreactors to track yeast growth when treated w various levels of caffeine -eventually for directed evolution of caffeine tolerant mutants Blue = Control Red = low conc. Green not the highest caffeine -but maybe the sweet spot for selection? @nysmtp.bsky.social @stanys.bsky.social

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Dan Williams @willida25.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

EXCITING day in our Lab! SI HS Ss have been learning how to use @nanoporetech.com DNA sequencing technology We've tried & failed many times We just got our longest high quality read @ 73,000 bases! It's 100% coverage & 100% similarity to staphlococcus aureus! @nysmtp.bsky.social @dnalc.bsky.social

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Dan Williams @willida25.bsky.social · 24/01/2026

Last night was Shelter Island's 61st annual Science Fair! My 20th -the most NextGen thing we do Ss select topics that interest THEM vapes/cosmetics/microplastics make claims, design valid experiments & justify their claim w data analysis They were amazing @nysmtp.bsky.social @stanys.bsky.social

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Dan Williams @willida25.bsky.social · 18/01/2026

Exciting News! We are bringing our DNA Barcoding summer camp up Island to Port Jefferson NY through the PJ Village Center & the LI Seaport & Ecology Center #LISEC -This 2 wk summer camp gets ss to do HANDS-ON field work & cutting edge DNA lab techniques! @nysmtp.bsky.social @stanys.bsky.social

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Dan Williams @willida25.bsky.social · 06/12/2025

Where does antibody diversity come from? A million genes? Proteins molded fr antigen shape? Interchangeable parts? Ss brainstormed ideas then worked through buffet style gene/protein menus to make unique antibodies! & they picked on my tracing... @nysmtp.bsky.social @3dmoleculardesigns.bsky.social

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Dan Williams @willida25.bsky.social · 25/11/2025

Long-term investigation in Shelter Island Marine Science. Last month we collected water samples from 3 different locations. The students filtered the water & are now examining under the microscope to see if its potentially microplastic. @nysmtp.bsky.social @stanys.bsky.social

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Dan Williams @willida25.bsky.social · 09/11/2025

Right after the Bio Breakfast, come join me to explore the Chemistry of Protein structure @ session F-17 "Folding & Molding" upstairs in the "Directors Room" -See you there! @stanys.bsky.social @nysmtp.bsky.social @3dmoleculardesigns.bsky.social

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Dan Williams @willida25.bsky.social · 08/11/2025

On my way to Syracuse for some of the best PD of the year! @stanys.bsky.social Can't wait to see old friends & make some new ones! Personally, I'll be presenting 4 workshops and running the @3dmoleculardesigns.bsky.social booth! Hope to see you there! @nysmtp.bsky.social

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Dan Williams @willida25.bsky.social · 30/10/2025

Today on Shelter Island, we completed our first ever DNA SEQUENCING experiment! @oxfordnanopore.bsky.social 16s Barcoding -culminating 2 years of student work hopefully confirming PCR results (watch this space) we had lots of mistakes so maybe wait for trial 2 @nysmtp.bsky.social @dnalc.bsky.social

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Dan Williams @willida25.bsky.social · 27/10/2025

When a 'good lab result' breaks your heart. My students followed the microplastics protocols from @nyseagrant.bsky.social collecting water fr around Shelter Island & today we can see that there is indeed plastic in our Estuary. Increasing student awareness. @nysmtp.bsky.social @stanys.bsky.social

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Dan Williams @willida25.bsky.social · 25/10/2025

I say it every yr b/c it's TRUE. This is the single best lab! Ss spent the day doing field wk @ 3 local beaches for a Day in the Life of the Peconic Estuary documenting water quality, fauna & flora. We added sampling for microplastics! @nyseagrant.bsky.social @nysmtp.bsky.social @stanys.bsky.social

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Dan Williams @willida25.bsky.social · 24/10/2025

Just finished a planning mtg w my co-presenter for The Biology Thread @stanys.bsky.social conference. It's just over 2 wks away! We are presenting "Making Sense of the Investigations" where we will discuss strategies for before & after the new labs. Hope to see you in Syracuse! @nysmtp.bsky.social

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Dan Williams @willida25.bsky.social · 14/10/2025

Shelter Island weather conditions since midnight Saturday. Pretty much everything we discussed in Marine Science last wk, consistent effects of a lingering 'Nor Easter Students are studying patterns to understand & predict local weather/climate @nysmtp.bsky.social @stanys.bsky.social

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Dan Williams @willida25.bsky.social · 25/09/2025

Shelter Island Science has entered the Genomic Age! Or @ least started a deeper dive into Microbiomes & Bioinformatics! TY to the generous support of donors students soon will be exploring entire new frontiers of DNA Sequencing questions! @dnalc.bsky.social @nysmtp.bsky.social @stanys.bsky.social

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Dan Williams @willida25.bsky.social · 23/09/2025

Announcing the partnership between the Town of Shelter Island + our school's Science Dept to monitor Salt Water intrusion in our drinking water. Our students will test the water + report back creating a map of the island tracking any hot spots #citizenscience @nysmtp.bsky.social @stanys.bsky.social

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Dan Williams @willida25.bsky.social · 20/09/2025

Unexpected FUN result of collaboration w the Chemistry teacher next door -students learn spectroscopy during 1st period & later the SAME day in Science Research they learn about DNA sequencing spectroscopy w florescent labeled nucleotides! Making Science Stick @nysmtp.bsky.social @stanys.bsky.social

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Dan Williams @willida25.bsky.social · 20/09/2025

Over 280 lbs recovered oyster shells so far from restaurant dinners as students through #LISEC Long Island Seaport & Ecology Center + Avalon Nature Preserve team up w Half Shells for Habitat's oyster shell recycling program. And we are JUST GETTING STARTED! @nysmtp.bsky.social @stanys.bsky.social

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Dan Williams @willida25.bsky.social · 24/08/2025

Want to barcode the bay? If you're in Port Jefferson at the Farmers market, ck out the #LISEC education table @ the "Quick & Dirty Boat Build" Tons of STUDENT projects! Oyster Shell Recycling, DNA Barcoding & Microplastics @nysmtp.bsky.social @stanys.bsky.social @cshlaboratory.bsky.social

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Dan Williams @willida25.bsky.social · 23/08/2025

If you're in Port Jefferson, NY, ck out the #LISEC education table @ the "Quick & Dirty Boat Build" Tons of STUDENT projects! Oyster Shell Recycling, DNA Barcoding w/ DNALC & Microplastics Both Today & Tomorrow! @nysmtp.bsky.social @stanys.bsky.social @cshlaboratory.bsky.social

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Dan Williams @willida25.bsky.social · 07/08/2025

Thank you NYS Seagrant for this INCREDIBLE workshop. So many cool projects to do w students both in school & at LISEC. We examined water samples from the lake -we got fibers, but probably biological. At least we have the concept down! So excited to share! @nysmtp.bsky.social @stanys.bsky.social

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Dan Williams @willida25.bsky.social · 07/08/2025

What a cool experience working w teachers from across NYS on creating a programable water ROV using Arduino hardware & code to collect microplastics! TY @nyseagrant for this amazing WS! So many incredible student projects can come from this! #LISEC @stanys.bsky.social @nysmtp.bsky.social

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Dan Williams @willida25.bsky.social · 28/07/2025

Thank you @stanys.bsky.social for the EXCELLENT PD today "Making Science Stick" where downstate NY Science teachers worked & brainstormed the best ways to reach our students, get them EXCITED about Science, so much so -that the ideas, concepts and practices STICK! @nysmtp.bsky.social AWESOME DAY!

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Dan Williams @willida25.bsky.social · 21/07/2025

The Long Island Seaport & Ecology Center "LISEC" announces the start of our Oyster Shell Recycling in Port Jefferson! Working w Avalon Nature Preserve & Half Shells for Habitat we will be recycling shells from local restaurants to help restore our environment @nysmtp.bsky.social @stanys.bsky.social

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Dan Williams @willida25.bsky.social · 11/07/2025

Thank You to the AMAZING teachers who joined from the Bahamas to Portland Oregon @ "Modeling the Molecular World" Our final day, we covered DNA replication, chromosome structure & cell division. I hope I get to work w you all again in the future! @3dmoleculardesigns.bsky.social @nysmtp.bsky.social

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Dan Williams @willida25.bsky.social · 11/07/2025

So many models So little time! Teachers explored multiple models of DNA & Genes plus transcription & translation @ day 4 of "Modeling the Molecular World" Plus, deeper dives into nucleotide chemistry, RNA structure & Ribosomes. @3dmoleculardesigns.bsky.social @nysmtp.bsky.social @stanys.bsky.social

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Dan Williams @willida25.bsky.social · 10/07/2025

Today, teachers examined how to transform old-fashioned memorization of cell parts/processes into exploration, discovery & modeling at Day 3 of "Modeling the Molecular World" they also got to explore the world of molecular visualization tools! @3dmoleculardesigns.bsky.social @nysmtp.bsky.social

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Dan Williams @willida25.bsky.social · 08/07/2025

What makes a good model? In part, it's ability to generate questions & we had tons of really deep biological ques today @ day 2 of "Modeling the Molecular World" @3dmoleculardesigns.bsky.social from Phosphorylation to Conformationional changes the teachers pushed the limits! @nysmtp.bsky.social

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Dan Williams @willida25.bsky.social · 07/07/2025

Such a fun/INCREDIBLE day working w HS/College teachers from across the country in "Modeling the Molecular World" Day 1! We covered a lot of chemistry, shapes & how it affects function! Water, Amino Acids, & Lipids -oh my! What an AWESOME group @3dmoleculardesigns.bsky.social @nysmtp.bsky.social

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Dan Williams @willida25.bsky.social · 06/07/2025

Gearing up for my second time helping to facilitate "Modeling the Molecular World" @3dmoleculardesigns.bsky.social Every model is prepared ✔️ Cool Science ✔️ Materials ✔️ Slides ✔️ Now I can't wait to meet our teacher participants!!!!

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Dan Williams @willida25.bsky.social · 02/07/2025

I used to do S³⁵ DNA polyacrylamide gel (dark room developed film) sequencing by hand (>30 years ago) which took WEEKS, to go from bug to a DNA seq & now thanks to the "Summer of Nanopore" @cshlaboratory.bsky.social I went from extraction to DNA seq in HOURS @nysmtp.bsky.social @stanys.bsky.social

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Dan Williams @willida25.bsky.social · 30/06/2025

Starting the Summer off right w INCREDIBLE SCIENCE! Today was the first day of the "Summer of Nanopore DNA Sequencing" @cshlaboratory.bsky.social Can't wait to take HS Student DNA projects to the next level & beyond! So many projects -so little time! @stanys.bsky.social @nysmtp.bsky.social

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Dan Williams @willida25.bsky.social · 22/05/2025

Congratulations to the incredible teachers & students recognized tonight at our annual @stanys.bsky.social Awards dinner! Always inspiring to hear about such talented, intelligent & inventive people! Shout out to the teachers of the year! Ms. Hughes, Ms. Orlowski & Mr. Haldenwang @nysmtp.bsky.social

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Dan Williams @willida25.bsky.social · 22/03/2025

Saturday Science! Science teacher education leaders gathered from all over NYS for INCREDIBLE Professional Dev. -TY Paul Andersen and planning for our Fall State conference #STANYS25 Learned a ton today -reinvigorated & inspired! @nysmtp.bsky.social @stanys.bsky.social @paulandersen.bsky.social

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Dan Williams @willida25.bsky.social · 22/03/2025

Sometimes you want the whole class to examine a model at the same time Using @3dmoleculardesigns.bsky.social models + a document camera, my students figured out protein synthesis by THEMSELVES! Shape = function No worksheets -just models + AWESOME OBSERVATIONS @nysmtp.bsky.social @stanys.bsky.social

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Dan Williams @willida25.bsky.social · 11/03/2025

Fully funded!!!! TY to Plant Biology Exploratory Research Microgrant & the donors for supporting our project to get HS students to use Nanopore Sequencing in the classroom to study plant microbiomes! Watch this space for INCREDIBLE HS SCIENCE! @nysmtp.bsky.social @stanys.bsky.social

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Dan Williams @willida25.bsky.social · 09/03/2025

Only a few days left to help fund our project -To get Nanopore Sequencing in the High School classroom to study plant microbiomes and comparative ecology across our Island. @nysmtp.bsky.social @stanys.bsky.social For more information and to Donate use this link: THANK YOU! shorturl.at/8i4tG

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Dan Williams @willida25.bsky.social · 06/03/2025

TY to the close to 70 teachers who attended my 2 workshops today. I took very few photos... but they were tons of fun & hopefully informative! I presented "The Story in Your Genes" & "Skulls Bones & Molecules -A NYSSLS way to Explore Evolution" @3dmoleculardesigns.bsky.social @nysmtp.bsky.social

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Dan Williams @willida25.bsky.social · 06/03/2025

Over 200 Science teachers from across Long Island gathering at the STANYS Spring Conference "Brace for Impact" starting a day of incredible professional development, sharing best practices, and resources! It's going to be a fantastic day! @nysmtp.bsky.social @stanys.bsky.social

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Dan Williams @willida25.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

Found out how to complete a PCA analysis on hominid fossil data. Students measured multiple aspects of 3D printed skulls & mandibles you can CLEARLY see which data is better! There are lots of cool questions now @nysmtp.bsky.social @stanys.bsky.social @johnhawks.bsky.social @evoexplorer.bsky.social

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Dan Williams @willida25.bsky.social · 01/03/2025

2 wks left for our funding goal! TY again to Plant Biology Exploratory Research Microgrant for supporting our project to get HS students to use Nanopore Sequencing in the classroom to study plant microbiomes! If you would like to donate: shorturl.at/8i4tG

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Dan Williams @willida25.bsky.social · 01/03/2025

It's #RareDiseaseDay HS students in my research class have started to study the Zinc Finger pdb file 2LAZ @rcsbpdb.bsky.social trying to understand the molecular basis for Scleroderma & potential treatments, Ss hoping to make a positive difference @nysmtp.bsky.social @3dmoleculardesigns.bsky.social

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Dan Williams @willida25.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

Early bird pricing has been extended through this weekend for Modeling the Molecular World @3dmoleculardesigns.bsky.social this summer at Stony Brook University! Join me August 4th - 8th for this fun, transformational week! Apply here shorturl.at/h5ONg @nysmtp.bsky.social @stanys.bsky.social

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Dan Williams @willida25.bsky.social · 27/02/2025

HS student Research. Using Pioreactors for a yeast project. Blue lines represent an experiment done in December, red February. Student tells me it's the same conditions both times....somethings up -this is where it gets FUN/INTERESTING! #Science @nysmtp.bsky.social @stanys.bsky.social

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Dan Williams @willida25.bsky.social · 24/02/2025

LI teachers! Just a few more days until early bird pricing ends on March 1st for Modeling the Molecular World @3dmoleculardesigns.bsky.social this summer at Stony Brook University! Join me August 4th - 8th for this transformational week! Apply here shorturl.at/h5ONg @nysmtp.bsky.social

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Dan Williams @willida25.bsky.social · 21/02/2025

3 wks left for our funding goal! TY again to Plant Biology Exploratory Research Microgrant for supporting our project to get HS students to use Nanopore Sequencing in the classroom to study plant microbiomes! If you would like to donate: shorturl.at/8i4tG

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