J. Clarke Richardson has a vast number of clubs, extracurriculars, and opportunities for students to seek new experiences. Through these activities, students are able to expand their horizons and interests. This year, we welcome a new club to our grand school — Biology Club. What if you could learn about fun science beyond the classroom, away from labs and stressful homework? At JCR’s Biology Club, students can indulge in exciting hands-on experiences, participate in enlightening discussions, and learn to harbour extraordinary team-building skills.
The first Biology Club meeting was held on Monday, February 23rd, 2026, where its members and leaders focused on club introductions and conducted a strawberry DNA extraction activity. Of course, starting a club comes with its challenges such as gathering enough members and establishing a clear purpose, and with only one meeting so far, the group is still planning out their future ambitions. However, members are optimistic as this is just the beginning of a great addition to our school.
To know more about this newly founded club, we decided to interview Biology Club President and founder, Amirah Chowdhury:
- What is your club about?
“Biology club focuses on the overall study of living organisms, and has many different aspects to it such as microbiology, physiology, biochemistry, and much more. This club gives members a chance to explore the various aspects of biology through fun, biology related activities, and learn more about biology in a career sense. It’s meant for students who have a passion or interest in the topic, and for those who want to learn more and gain experience on the different aspects of it”
- What activities do you do?
“[In the future,] members will engage in activities that explore the numerous topics of biology. Our first activity, the strawberry DNA extraction lab, was where members had to extract the DNA from the strawberry. Through this, the strands of biochemistry, genetics, and biotechnology were touched upon. In future meetings, we will have the members partake in activities that explore many more topics such as marine biology, forensic biology, microbiology, physiology, and much more”
- Why should people join your club?
“The biology club offers many things to those who attend our meetings. Members will partake in fun, interactive activities related to the aspects of biology, including hands-on activities. And, it will be a supportive space where members can interact with like-minded people who are also interested in biology. Most importantly, it is a place where you can have fun overall. You don’t have to have any prior knowledge about biology to join the club, and can come to the meetings at any point in time to participate in our activities”
- What do club members get out of being in your club?
“[Members can] strengthen their skills through our activities or projects such as teamwork, collaboration, critical thinking, problem solving, and analytical skills. They’ll become more knowledgeable on the topic of biology, plus the different aspects of it”
- What actions do you take to make people feel included?
“We have made sure to put up posters everywhere around the school and promote on instagram about our club, to let students know that everyone is welcome to join. We have also made sure and will continue to ensure that we create an inclusive and encouraging environment during our meetings, and have everyone in the room have fun with what we have to offer”
- What motivated you to start this club?
“I had always been very interested in biology and wanted to make a club for others who also have an interest. I wanted to create a space where you could enjoy biology outside of the classroom, away from the stressful aspects of it like tests, quizzes, or deadlines, and enjoy the fun, and explore more of the fun and interactive parts to it. I had also gotten inspiration to start this club from seeing many club leaders within this school, and due to the support I had gotten from numerous people”
- What are your club goals, and how do you plan on promoting them?
“I’d say to make an engaging environment where members can explore the topics of biology while also having fun with it, make members more knowledgeable about biology in a career sense, showcase the topic and the different strands of biology to anyone who seems interested and those who have no prior interest or experience, and encourage collaboration and other networking skills. We plan on promoting these goals mainly through [Instagram] posts by showcasing the fun activities we do, and collaborating with other clubs in the school”
In summation, what truly stands out most about Biology Club is the sense of community and potential. Although the club may be small for now, it offers a foundation for growth, collaboration, and discovery. As more students join and ideas continue to develop, it has the potential to become a vibrant part of the school community. The club is more than just a club, it’s a space where students can ask questions, explore unique ideas, and develop a lasting appreciation for science. It’s where curiosity turns into passion.
The club remains open to anyone interested in biology — no experience required. With enthusiasm driving it forward, the Biology Club is off to a strong start, proving that even a single meeting can spark something meaningful. So, come on over to Biology Club in room 3307 on Mondays at lunch to not only dive into fun science-related strands, but to also have a good time with your friends while doing it.
