News release
The College of the Canyons Society of Physics and Engineering Students successfully launched a high-altitude balloon carrying a scientific payload that members designed, built, and tested over several months, according to a news release from COC.
Launched in September, the balloon’s payload included a custom bio-aerosol sampler developed by club members to collect microorganisms in the stratosphere — a region of Earth’s atmosphere where life is rarely studied, the release said.
The interdisciplinary project united students from physics, engineering, and life sciences, providing them with hands-on experience in real-world scientific research. The team is already preparing additional launches to refine the sampler device and expand data collection.
“This project demonstrates what’s possible when students from different disciplines collaborate on a shared scientific goal,” Kimberly Berthet, chapter advisor and COC instructor, whose scientific thesis inspired and informed the project, said in the release. “It’s designed to be accessible, affordable and easily reproducible so that other STEM groups can contribute to this kind of ‘crowd research.’”
As the first formal engineering club at COC, SPES is dedicated to fostering an engaging and inclusive community for science, technology, engineering and math learners. Through short-term, hands-on projects, members gain practical knowledge and experience while enjoying the creative process, the release said.
In addition to project-based learning, the club plans to host guest speakers and organize at least one SPS-funded field trip to offer members networking opportunities and exposure to industry professionals.
An official chapter of the Society of Physics Students, SPES is open to all students and aims to introduce students to the fields of engineering and physics by fostering a dynamic community that encourages exploration and curiosity in STEM.
For more information about SPES at COC, contact [email protected].
