PHILADELPHIA -- When science teacher James R. Dandy enters his Youth Study Center Detention School classroom each day, he's not sure who's on the roster or how long they'll be there. This constant turnover has Dandy ever on the lookout for new ideas to help him make science vital and interesting to his students.

This year, one of those "new ideas" came in the form of an $8,500 summer research fellowship that enables him to work in the lab of a University of Pennsylvania faculty member. Under a program of The American Physiological Society called "Frontiers in Physiology," Dr. Adrian R. Morrison of Penn School of Veterinary Medicine is serving as Dandy's research mentor.

"James participates directly in as much research as his experience and training allow," said Morrison, a sleep researcher studying insomnia. "He learned how to score sleep records, participated in the lab weekly meetings and reported on his experiences."

Dandy takes his lessons to the next level. "My aim is to develop inquiry-based learning in my classroom rather than a cook book-type of instruction. In our science labs, everything's been cookbook."

In inquiry-based learning, Dandy explained, a teacher is a facilitator, not a dispenser of knowledge. "The teacher poses a question; the kids then pair up to form their own hypothesis, statement of the problem, list the methods and materials of solving the problem, using stuff available in the classroom."

Dandy and Morrison both hope that the fellowship will make it easier for Dandy to talk with the kids about science and what scientists do. "I want to dispel those stereotypes that scientists are nerds," he said.

The two are teaming up to develop a teaching unit on sleep disorders, complete with experiments the students can do. As part of the fellowship requirements, Dandy is also creating a web page that links to Morrison's page as a reference. Since Dandy's classroom is already outfitted with computers, he plans to encourage use the web page for practical learning as well as research.

"Students' lessons and their homework will be posted," Dandy said. "They can go to the web page, find their names and their lessons with specific questions to answer and experiments to do. They'll learn technology, research and self-reliance."

Morrison, one of 14 APS members hosting teachers like Dandy this summer, will accompany his protege to the APS annual conference in New Orleans in April, where Dandy hopes they can do a presentation together.

"This has been the highpoint of my life, learning how scientists work," Dandy said.