Students present research in biology, chemistry and organic chemistry
Contact: Juliet V. Casey, jcasey@losmedaonos.edu, (925) 473-7322
Pittsburg, Calif. – LMC students are experimenting with human hair, and not in the TikTok hair-style sort of way.
Across the globe, hair is used to aid in cleaning up oil spills – from France to Chile to the Philippines to the United States. This practice piqued the interest of LMC students, Gabrielle Bautista, Payton Vick, Fatima Rodriguez Magan, Angelina Zuloaga, and Mylah Solian. They learned hair is used because it absorbs oil and is biodegradable, so they wondered if bleached hair would be more absorbent than natural hair.
“We thought bleached hair would absorb better because it has higher porosity, its surface is more open and capable of absorbing the pollutant, so we tested it,” Vick said. Their experiment using hair to absorb methylene blue dye from water showed little difference in absorption between bleached and natural hair but led to more questions. Would different color-treated hair matter? Could this information be applied elsewhere?
“We could try more hair types and colors and see if there are other applications for this knowledge for cosmetology purposes,” Zuloaga said.
Their research presentation was part of LMC’s 10th Annual STEM Symposium, which featured 48 poster presentations and about 200 student scientists who conducted research in chemistry, biology and biochemistry.
Erica Bilodeau, an adjunct chemistry professor and an organizer of this year’s event, said the research symposium is designed to give students hands-on, real-world experience in the world of academic and scientific research. She added that while the science is a critical component, giving students an opportunity to explain their work to a non-scientific audience is also important.
“It’s also just a really cool day, where we focus on the students, and they get to teach us about their work,” Bilodeau said.
Presentations included experiments using essential oils to break down plastics, research on the effects of natural versus synthetic fertilizers on earthworms, testing varied procedures for creating catalysts to break down plastics, and more.
LMC Dean of Mathematics and Sciences said this year’s symposium demonstrated the college’s growing presence in the science community, especially as it strengthens key partnerships. For example, she said LMC has developed a great relationship with Big Break Regional Shoreline.
“They allow us to come out and use their facility to collect data and learn from their experts,” she said. She added that LMC also has made it a point to invite high school students to the symposium each year. About 60 students from Deer Valley and Dozier Libbey Medical High School attended Friday’s event.
“We like them to come and think about what is possible for their futures and what it might be like to experience STEM and laboratory work at the college level,” Trager said.
About Los Medanos College (LMC): LMC is one of three colleges in the Contra Costa Community College District serving the East Contra Costa County community. Established in 1974, LMC has earned federal designations as a Minority-Serving and Hispanic-Serving institution. It offers award-winning transfer and career-technical programs, support services, and diverse academic opportunities in an inclusive learning environment. With exceptional educators, innovative curriculum, growing degree and certificate offerings, and state-of-the-art facilities, the college prepares students to succeed in their educational pursuits, in the workforce, and beyond. LMC’s Pittsburg Campus is located on 120 acres bordering Antioch, with an additional education center in Brentwood.