IN THE CLASSROOM -- Scientific approach to a career

Deirdre Newman

Scientists are geeky. Science is not for me. Science doesn’t offer

many options.

These are some of the myths scientists from UC Irvine tried to dispel

last week at Costa Mesa High School as part of the school’s annual

Ask-a-Scientist night.

More than 100 students came to mingle with marine biologists,

zoologists, restoration ecologists and a variety of other UCI scientists.

The forum enabled the students to ask questions about their science fair

projects and general questions about the field of science.

“This is a lot lower key” than in the classroom, said Don Ryan, a

science teacher at the school. “It’s more like a sit-down with an uncle

or grandpa to talk about what they do with science.”

This is the third year UCI scientists have visited the high school.

The collaboration evolved out of the college’s Science Fair Initiative,

designed to spark interest in science at schools with a high proportion

of minority students. The scientists will visit Estancia High School next

month.

Sean Kim, who is pursuing a doctorate in biology, said he participates

to let students know the day-to-day details of being a scientist.

“The seed of my love for science was planted by my biology teacher

when I was a sophomore,” Kim said.

Biologist David Gardiner, whose daughter Sara attends Costa Mesa High,

said it is important to think of science as a way of knowing, not as a

separate entity.

“It’s all about breaking down the cultural barrier that isolates

science and technology,” Gardiner said. “As long as people think science

is something different, we have a problem.”

Many of the students said they came to learn what steps they should

take to pursue a science career.

“I want to be a marine biologist,” senior Andrew Strickland said. “I’m

going to try to get my career on a roll and ask them how they did it, so

I can follow in their footsteps.”

Freshman Prillie Chang said she came to find out more about physics.

“Physics is more simple than biology,” Prillie said, after talking to

a physicist. “You would think it’s harder.”

And trustee David Brooks also learned some fascinating information

from the scientists.

“I’ve been hearing about how shaving cream works,” Brooks said, adding

that the partnership between Costa Mesa High and UC Irvine is

instrumental in exposing students to fields they might not otherwise

consider.

Costa Mesa High’s science fair takes place in March. UCI professors

judge the projects, and the winners from each grade go on to the county

science fair.

* IN THE CLASSROOM is a weekly feature in which Daily Pilot education

writer Deirdre Newman visits a campus in the Newport-Mesa area and writes

about her experience.