Classes also can make arrangements to work with Colby faculty in the laboratory. Equipment and space are provided and instructions given to accomplish laboratory work related to a unit of study the students are currently studying. Faculty willing to host groups are listed in our web pages.
Examples of work done are listed below:
Skowhegan Middle School: An honors group of fifth and sixth graders came to the Department of Biology to do some laboratory tests on water samples gathered by the group at two nearby lakes. A member of the Biology department had previously visited the classroom to help with the sampling process. Students conducted water quality tests for nitrates/nitrites, pH, hardness, and alkalinity while at Colby. Students were divided into two laboratories and several Biology faculty members helped the students with the tests.
Kotlas, Russia Exchange: An honors group of High School students from several area schools have worked during the year with members of the Departments of Biology and Chemistry. The students were working with a group of Russian students from the town of Kotlas, each group having picked an environmental issue to consider during the year. The department of Biology provided equipment and instructions to help the local students do some water quality work on nearby rivers during the fall and winter. The program included a trip by the Russian students to Maine and a reciprocal trip to Russian by the Maine students. During the stay of the Russian students, both groups of students were invited to Colby to perform nutrient and heavy metal analysis using facilities in the departments of Chemistry and Biology. Students worked in mixed teams of Russian/Americans to do the work.