High school AP chemistry students visit Cal Poly
Bearcats joined by alumni, Cal Poly professors
Bearcats joined by alumni, Cal Poly professors
–On the morning of Dec. 7, Paso Robles High School AP chemistry classes jumped on a bus heading for Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. At Cal Poly, the classes conducted a three-hour lab exploring distillation and chromatography, two important concepts in how molecules interact and how chemists can separate molecules. These students were able to work in a state-of-the-art educational laboratory space. Each group had their own fume hood, full set of glassware, and access to a gas chromatograph for analysis. In the spirit of Cal Poly’s motto, “Learn by Doing,” students set up their own glassware, ran the distillation, collected samples, and ran their own analysis.
Bearcats were joined by Cal Poly professors from throughout the department of chemistry and biochemistry, as well as numerous PRHS graduates now attending Cal Poly as chemistry, biochemistry, biology, and physics majors. After the lab was over, they received a tour of the chemistry and biochemistry department from Dr. Seth Bush, the department chair.
