Physics Labs for Students in High School

The summer program, Physics Labs for Students in High School (PhLaSH) was immensely successful again this year with eleven students participating from high schools throughout Southern California.

PhLaSH was conceived in 1999, by Professor Gerd Bergmann and Ty Buxman, Director of Undergraduate Affairs. They wanted to create a hands-on lab program for high school students with an interest in science. Professor Bergmann taught the pilot program that first year and it was extremely successful.

This summer, Ty Buxman organized the program. Each day of the week-long program provided a new subject. After a guest lecturer provided the theoretical background for the topic, students would work on an experiment in the morning. Before lunch, the class would take a tour of one of the research labs on campus. Lunch included informal discussions with the department faculty on a wide variety of subjects. Students then returned to the lab in order to finish their experiments in an afternoon session.

Virginia Valentine was the Laboratory Coordinator for PhLaSH. She is a third year Astronomy major and has worked in the labs during much of that time. She thoroughly enjoyed working with the students. "I wish I had something like this when I was in high school," she stated. "The students are very intelligent and they catch on so quickly. I feel we just barely scratched the surface."

The student comments were just as enthusiastic. "PhLaSH was a wonderful experience. Whether you've taken physics before or not, you'll leave with a wealth of knowledge and experience in physics and many other things. I greatly recommend this program to any high school student interested in science," wrote one student. Another said, "I would definitely recommend this class to anyone interested in physics. It is a great opportunity to learn more about college and different fields of study in physics. You get to meet really cool students and professors."

The Department of Physics and Astronomy is continually seeking out innovative ways to promote general science to young people. As Ty Buxman states, "I believe this program is a great way to help inspire young people to continue in their exploration of physics. The combination of a relaxed setting and hands-on lab work along with a chance to talk with faculty, undergraduates and graduate students all contribute toward making this a very positive, unique experience for the students."

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