What does cellular biology have in common with the popular video game Call of Duty? Quite a bit, according to Dr. Ted Hinchcliffe.

The associate professor, who heads the cellular dynamics section at The Hormel Institute, gave a presentation Monday in Ellis Middle School’s auditorium about his cancer research and careers in science.

Hinchcliffe compared scientific thought to video games, where an especially challenging level may convince a player to come up with a new, smarter strategy to prevail. Students can easily relate to video games, Hinchcliffe said, and making the comparison could help students who have shut out the idea of a career in science see it in a new light.

Hinchcliffe’s presentation was part of a community outreach initiative to pique students’ curiosity in scientific fields, and was also meant to encourage students who are already considering that line of study.

“We certainly want to talk to the kids who have an interest in science,” he said.

Hinchcliffe, who started speaking at Ellis in 2009, emphasized how cultivating an interest in science would give students many different ways to make a difference in the world.

“There are a lot of opportunities,” he said.