BROOMFIELD, Colo. — Just in time for National Chemistry Week (October 17-23), the Colorado Department of Agriculture’s Division of Laboratory Services is launching the Lab Outreach Program, geared at helping high school-aged student groups learn more about the science of agriculture.
As CDA works to support the next generation of agriculturalists, this hands-on learning program will give students a chance to learn about the connection between laboratory science and agriculture.
“Students interested in careers in STEM fields should have the opportunity to experience different applications of science and CDA wants to support these future leaders of agriculture,” said Eric Petty, Director of the Division of Laboratory Services. “The Lab Outreach Program will help students see and understand crosscutting concepts that connect different domains of science. Seeing scientists at work can give students from all backgrounds the inspiration and confidence to pursue careers in technical fields.”
Schools, curriculum directors, and science teachers can customize this free program to work for different groups of students. The Lab Outreach Program provides both in person and online opportunities to talk to scientists, see and learn from experiments, and tour the State Lab facilities.
The Lab Outreach Program models science and engineering practices standards such as using mathematics and computational thinking, understanding patterns or cause and effect, and planning and carrying out investigations and experiments. Students can participate in activities structured around the Laboratory Services Division’s three labs:
- the BioChem (analytical) Laboratory, which employs microbiological and analytical chemistry testing to analyze various agricultural samples.
- the Metrology Laboratory, which certifies reference weights and volume measures used in field calibrations of measuring devices like scales.
- the Animal Health Laboratory, which aids veterinarians in meeting USDA and CDA livestock disease regulations.
School and student groups can choose from three options of learning about the science of agriculture: facility tours, to see scientists at work and learn about instruments they use; classroom or virtual “Ask A Scientist” or “Science Career Discussions,” where they listen to our scientists talk about their connection to agriculture and what inspired them to become a scientist; or a specialized 2-hour tour with a hands-on lab testing experience related to chemistry, microbiology, or metrology.
High school-aged groups of all abilities and knowledge of science levels are encouraged to schedule this free, educational tour. Group and school leaders should contact the Division of Laboratory Services to schedule a custom in-person or virtual agricultural science tour.
For more information about the program or to schedule a student tour, contact Caroline Baty-Barr, Colorado Department of Agriculture, Division of Laboratory Services at caroline.batybarr@state.co.us or 303-869-9222.
More information about the program can be found at ag.colorado.gov/LabOutreach.
— Colorado Department of Agriculture
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