UCI Science Program Is an Eye-Opener for Young Latinos

The 100 researchers working at UC Irvine for the past two weeks looked like typical scientists in most regards, even donning white lab coats. What was unusual was their age: All were fourth- through ninth-grade students.

As part of Kids Investigating and Discovering Science, a joint effort between the Santa Ana Unified School District and UCI, the youngsters have been studying, experimenting and also touring the campus medical buildings and nuclear reactors used for research.

The goal of the annual program is to spark interest among Latinos in the sciences and in attending college. Teachers from the school district conduct the bilingual classes at UCI.

The KIDS program is in its fifth year, and each session has its own theme. Past topics have included chemistry and archeology; this year’s was how environmental factors such as air pollution affect health.

To research their topics, the students examined the lungs of pigs that had been exposed to smoke.

“It’s neat to see how the one that was contaminated didn’t grow as big as the other one,” said 12-year-old Damien Garo. Not so neat, he said, was actually handling the pig lungs: “They smell.”

This year’s session, which ended Friday, was funded by $35,000 from UCI, the school district and grants, program assistant Adriana Huezo said.