Fascinated by animals, Adam is more of a Noah

As a sixth-grader at Christian Brothers Academy in Albany, Adam Marre used to peer through the window of the school's biology lab, wishing he could be taking care of the animals that were inside.

Finally, he realized that to get what he wanted, he had to ask for it. He did so in a roundabout way: He brought in a slime mold, presented it to biology teacher Robert Durocher and asked: "What is this?"

That question started him on the path to exploring his fascination with science. Now, two years later, CBA principal David McGuire describes the eighth-grader as "almost a veterinarian."

CBA's Noah

The fast-talking 13-year-old is responsible for taking care of many of the fauna in the biology lab, which is home to a boa constrictor, an iguana, a bearded dragon (another reptile), two snapping turtles, some goldfish, a hamster, a naked mole rat and a tarantula.

"I take care of the aquatic stuff -- the turtles, the fish," Adam explained. "I'm not really into reptiles; they just sit on a rock. I'd rather have something that does more action."

Besides, after witnessing the boa wrapping itself around Mr. Durocher's arm, Adam declared that "I refuse to handle the boa. Once a month, we throw in a live rat [to feed it]; it's amusing, but it's not really pretty."

He observed wryly that students from the upper grades like to cheer on the boa as it digests its dinner: "I like seeing other people interested in biology."

Gulp!

Of course, Adam himself is fascinated with watching the bearded dragon capture crickets. He described in detail the way the crickets run around frantically until the dragon flicks out his long tongue and snaps them up.

Adam particularly likes feeding beetles to the dragon because of the "gross but cool" crunching sound as it eats them.

"I'm lucky with the bearded dragon; he hasn't bitten me yet," Adam said. "The turtles scratch me a lot. The iguana is like, 'Yeah, you're taking me out [of my cage]!' Sometimes, we let him explore the room. You have to wear gloves when you hold him."

Zoo time

Adam is full of stories about the animals and reptiles he has encountered, both in school and in the woods near his Ballston Spa home.

"I have two dogs, Emma and Molly," he said. "Emma is a chocolate lab; she's like a big teddy bear. Molly is part black lab. We used to have a fish tank, but my sister brought in a toad from outside, and it killed everything. I've been nagging my parents about getting an aquatic animal -- a turtle or some fish."

If he had an unlimited budget, Adam admitted he'd probably own an unlimited number of animals. Since his favorite pet is a turtle, he'd get "a really big tortoise or a small turtle," plus some fish and "a whole bunch of dogs."

Doctor Doolittle

Adam takes special pride in his nursing skills with sick animals in the bio lab.

"Last year, the turtles had shell rot, so I went out and bought this stuff [to treat it]," he said. "It was sticky; it got on your fingers; goop would come out of their shells."

Adam's enthusiasm about his charges dims when he remembers the ones that didn't survive. When a batch of goldfish became infected with a fungus, "we decided we had to kill them. That was sad because I'd been [caring for] them for a long time, but we put something in the water that killed them instantly."

He brightened, noting: "We got new ones, and I'm pretty excited because one's pregnant right now. She looks like she's going to explode!"

Francis of CBA

Adam has also given animals at home a helping hand. Once, he found a nest of baby field mice whose mother had been killed in the woods. He called the Environmental Protection Agency to find out how to take care of them.

He ended up feeding them warm milk from baby bottles, and four of the five mice survived to be set free.

A while later, Adam saw a field mouse with babies in the same spot where he'd put his mice, and guessed that one of the mice he'd cared for had grown up and spawned a new generation.

Mr. Wizard

For all his eagerness to talk about animals, Adam's interest in things scientific ranges much further afield: "I just like science, flat-out," he stated.

Chemistry, for example, is another passion. Adam described the time he and his sister, disappointed in the quality of their chemistry set, decided to see what would happen if they mixed all the chemicals together. The mixture started on fire and shot straight into the air like a rocket.

Thankfully, they were outdoors. "My dad came by and said, 'Hey, who burned my lawn?'" Adam remarked.

The budding scientist complained that it's hard for a teen to amass all the ingredients he needs to do really interesting experiments -- particularly when the government is keeping a close watch on purchases of chemicals that could be ingredients in bombs.

"I can't get sodium at home because it's too expensive," he griped. "I try to get it online, but it's too hard with all the terrorist stuff."

More to learn

With such varied interests, Adam is looking forward to next year, when he'll take biology with his favorite teacher, Mr. Durocher.

"I think I'll do well in that class," he said. "Mr. Durocher has only told me ten percent of what he knows, so I'm looking forward to a class where he tells me 105 percent of what he knows!"

Of course, Adam isn't averse to asking questions while he waits. "The other day, I had this dream, and I came in and said, 'Tell me everything you know about dreams' -- and he did!" he enthused. "He told me all about the alpha and the beta" brain waves.

Many interests

Adam hopes to expand his interests beyond science. He's already on a swim team at his local YMCA, and is thinking about flexing his verbal skills on the speech and debate team.

He reeled off a list of upcoming developments: "I'm looking forward to getting my eighth-grade diploma, getting really good grades, maybe [becoming] valedictorian or salutatorian."

His parents, he said, are firm about academics.

"Sometimes, I come home and say, 'I bombed this test.' My parents say, 'Do better on the next one.' I know if I don't, I've got an apple on my head, and my dad's behind the bow!"

As for his "scientific interests," Adam said, "my family is very supportive. They don't really get disgusted; my mom just says, 'Don't bring any rats inside.' That's where she draws the line."

(Adam is already debating a medical career, whether as a vet or a pediatrician, since he likes to babysit younger children. He offered some advice to other teens interested in science, but who are embarrassed to explore that interest: "Get involved with school. If you think you're a nerd, look at Bill Gates! Look at Einstein! Plus, it's really, really fun to do.")

(11/11/04)