The department held a pilot research earlier this year. The traveling group included Liam Hampl (‘27), Gabby Fletcher (‘27) and Katie Boos. Boos teaches DE Chemistry, AP Environmental Science, and regular Chemistry. The group traveled to Rancho Marino Reserve, a research reserve in Cambria.
The Cambria trip was a success and as a result the department is taking an additional trip, April 3-5. The destination will be Eastern SLO County near Carrizo Plains and the group will be tent camping. The trip will involve 20 upperclassmen and Boos, along with other members of the science department, such as Deveccio and James Colgan.
The purpose of the excursion is to conduct research on Amole, a plant that is endemic to the area. The participating students and staff will join Cal Poly Biologist professor Jen Yost and a line up of her PHD students.
“The goal is to conduct research over the coming years to see how different human activities affect the plant growth and populations,” Boos said.
The department trips are a part of the Field Studies Program, which is very closely related to the Field Studies Collaborative club at AG. The club is headed by Hampl and Fletcher. They meet every Thursday at lunch in Boos’s room. Club meetings are open to all.
The long term goal is that the research trips will become a permanent biannual occurrence and the program is working towards establishing their own boosters.
Though the current research trip is already full, the next trip will take place in the fall of next school year. The trip will be open to all applicants, but upperclassmen will be the first picked. The destination of the trip will again be Rancho Marino Reserve in Cambria.
