A group of biology students gave children and adults at the 7th Annual Nancy McCracken Learning Expo the opportunity to use professional microscopes to see microorganisms.
The students, who were part of Professor John Chan's Biology 441 internship course, set up a booth with three microscopes to examine blood, bacteria and fungi. A few thousand people attended the free event, with about 100 stopping by the students' booth.
"They seemed to love it, and it was a great opportunity for the youth to be exposed to science on a microscopic level," says Vatche Kaprielelian, one of the biology students. "It was the first time for many people to use a professional microscope, so they were definitely intrigued and seized the opportunity."
Nearly all of the 40 schools in the Pomona Unified School District participated by attending, showcasing student projects at booths, or by performing, according to a district spokesman.
The expo, which was held at the Fairplex on May 4, is sponsored by the school district, city of Pomona, Fairplex, Western University of Health Sciences, HMC architects and Pomona Library. It is designed to stimulate children's interest in science, math and engineering through demonstrations and activities.