Vivian De La Cruz, a senior at San Gabriel Mission High School, was one of 25 students area-wide accepted to the Community Science Academy at Caltech this summer. It was a 6-week program where students gained hands-on experience performing experiments and building projects in Caltech labs and facilities.
According to Vivian, she performed several experiments from testing nitrogen levels, to making a human camera, extracting beta carotene, and creating aspirin from salicylic acid. She also attended several seminars leaning about gas vesicle proteins, quantum optics, neuroscience and synthetic chemistry.
Vivian enjoyed the experience at Caltech. It has helped her plan for her future and given her insights into what it will be like when she attends college. She plans on majoring in biology, medicine or engineering. Vivian was delighted to be given the chance to participate in this comprehensive science academy.