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Revving up to do scientific research
Chevron funding to CSUB is aiding area students, teachers
| Wednesday, Jul 25 2007 9:50 PM
Last Updated: Wednesday, Jul 25 2007 9:56 PM
Teens Brenda Espinoza and Mayra Arellano were smitten with Vinny, a Kansas corn snake.
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A scorpion takes on a neon glow when lit by a ultraviolet light . Its reflection can also be seen on the container walls. This class was part of the REVS-UP summer research program at CSUB.
Brenda Espinoza, 14, left, and Mayra Arellano, 16, play with a Kansas corn snake at the REVS-UP summer research program at CSUB. Espinoza is from Stockdale High and Arellano attends Arvin High.
Afton Sanchez, 17, left, from Stockdale high, and Delano high student Verna Alejo, 17, watch Sanchez's beaker as she separates plant extract at the REVS-UP summer research program at CSUB.
The tawny-colored reptile wrapped its taut body around their forearms like a pretzel.
Espinoza and Arellano are among about 40 high school students and 20 math and science teachers doing research in biology, chemistry, geology, math and physics with professors at Cal State Bakersfield funded by a gift from Chevron Corp.
The girls are working with assistant biology professor Carl Kloock, who's researching scorpions.
He's studying why the critters glow when placed under ultraviolet light. No one knows for sure why they do, Kloock said, as he placed a light over a behemoth scorpion in a plastic container. Parts of its two-inch body promptly turned lime green.
"This particular one is quite feisty," Kloock said.
The teens like the hands-on aspect of research.
The other day, the girls helped catch about 30 scorpions near Buttonwillow, using tongue depressors to coax them into vials.
"When they told us we would be working with scorpions, I didn't think they would be real," Arellano said Tuesday.
Teacher Regan Rosstain said she's having a blast doing research again. She has a master's degree in conservation biology but hasn't done research in seven years.
She teaches seventh grade at Lakeside School and is glad she can learn about current research practices.
"I fully plan on taking this into the classroom," she said, adding she'd like Kloock to show her students the scorpions' glow factor.
Down the hall, several students and teacher Chris Juarez analyzed compounds in spinach. Next week, they'll study peppers and basil and look for potential biologic properties. They are working with chemistry professor Roy LaFever, who taught Juarez as an undergraduate.
Juarez teaches chemistry and physics at Delano High. He applied to the research program to expand what he knows about chemistry and generate lab ideas.
"I'm a lifelong learner," he said.
Mario Banuelos will be a senior at Delano High this fall. He plans to major in chemistry in college and thought it would be a good idea to get research experience and become familiar with lab equipment.
Chevron gave the university a $1 million gift to fund Research Experience Vitalizing Science -- University Program (REVS-UP). Program goals include increasing student interest and achievement in math and science.
It started July 16 and ends Aug. 9.
The summer research program will be offered for two more years. Student and county teachers receive stipends for their work.
"CSUB has just been fantastic to work with," said Carla Musser, Chevron's spokeswoman. "The partnership with them has been so awesome. They have the same desire we have, to see more students involved in these fields," which can help company and the community.
High school students don't usually have the chance to do research and aren't aware of what it involves, said Andreas Gebauer, an associate professor of chemistry. Through the program, students are learning the fun part of science and research is in the doing.
Information about how to apply for the summer 2008 session may be available in mid- to late August at www.csub.edu/stem.