Biology

The San Diego Chapter of AALAS is a non-profit benefit professional organization, not organized for the private gain of any person; and comprised of laboratory research industry professionals including Technicians, Research Scientists, Managers, Directors and commercial colleagues. Branch leadership is committed to educating and promoting the laboratory animal science community and we strive to represent the membership to the fullest extent, including appropriate public outreach efforts.

Our booth will include banners, pictures, demonstration items, handouts and giveaways. We have a "Down the Drain" spinning wheel that will draw people toward/into our booth. The "Down the Drain" game allows us to interact with people and present our message. We want the public to be good stewards of the environment and dispose of items properly (trash, sewer or compost). We will also answer any questions people ask regarding wastewater treatment and food waste.

Neurosciences graduate students founded and organized the Neuroscience Outreach Program to share our knowledge of the brain and neuroscience research with San Diego students and community members. This year at the EXPO our student volunteers present several teaching modules, including sheep brain dissection, comparative neuroanatomy, and demonstrations of electrical signaling in the nervous system, including making a cockroach leg "dance" to music played through an iPhone.

Divided booth 10X30 total - for 10X20 side with electric: DNA extraction activity Blurb: Discovering DNA: What does real DNA look like? Come discover the "stuff of life" shared by every organism on the planet! For 10X10 side: Information about Salk programs Blurb: Salk Education Outreach provides programs that go out to the community as well as bring students to the institute. Come find out more about Where Cures Begin

Hands-on science activity coordinated by members of AWIS SD Outreach Committee

SBP will be very hands-on with experiments, showing what we do in the lab, yet on lay-friendly level. We will have things for kids and adults to look at (last year it was Virtual reality glasses and proteins, and C.elegans - tiny worms) and be interactive with our scientist volunteers. (exact experiments TBD) We will also apply temporary DNA tattoos, and give out little lab coats. We will make the science exciting and interesting for all!

Hands-on activities in zoology and human biology.

We plan to have activities for individuals of all ages to participate in. Since we are a neuroscience lab, we like to have some activities in which people can learn about the brain and brain functions. Some activities include a brain trivia game, stroop task (always a favorite!), as well as some brain mazes for the younger kids, and more! As we did last year, we will be bringing a brain model for the kids and adults to look at and we are there to answer any questions they may have.

Since 2009 Castle Park High students, with Dr. Pomeroy of UCSD, have learned to produce biodiesel from vegetable oil. Students use a particle counter to determine how “clean” the fuel burns and discuss how particulate impacts our global climate. Students present this field data to support the benefits of biodiesel. Our booth, as in years past, will demonstrate the step-by-step process of biodiesel synthesis, discuss the advantages of biodiesel over petroleum and outline the ease of production.