Evidence of Excellence

New science-math-library building will enhance student exploration.

In a small back room of Poly's Upper School science building, Claire Drolen '11 and John Tuddenham '11 are hunched over what appears to be a large shoebox. This "shoebox," however, happens to be equipped with a laser, a Lego robotics kit, and a small sample of metal-oxide. It is part of the SHArK project, a national and international research effort focused on inexpensive solar power.

SHArK stands for Solar Hydrogen Activity Research Kit. (The small "r" allows the acronym to be written as a sequence of chemical elements: sulfur, hydrogen, argon and potassium.) SHArK is the brainchild of Bruce Parkinson, a chemistry professor at the University of Wyoming, who attended Caltech and is partnering with Caltech's Center for Chemical Innovation.

"Our involvement really started because of Poly's proximity to Caltech," explains Claire. "Professor Harry Gray approached Ms. Bush [chair of Poly's Science Department] to ask if any Poly students were interested in joining the SHArK project. We jumped at the chance!"

SHArK is just one example of how Poly's science program strives to support inquisitive, ambitious students, and to keep pace with rapid innovation in science, math, and related fields. The department now offers six senior electives in fields ranging from global health to relativity, in addition to regular coursework and four rigorous Advanced Placement classes.

"We'd like to give more students the chance to work on projects like SHArK," says Jill Bush, "but for that, we'll need more space, and flexible space. At the moment we're stretched to capacity, with not enough laboratory classrooms to go around. We're really excited about how the new building will enhance all aspects of our program."

Fundraising for the new science-math-library building is underway. Equipped with seven new laboratory classrooms, the building will ensure that Poly continues to offer students exceptional opportunities for scientific exploration—whether in AP courses, senior electives, or independent research.

For Poly's SHArK team, this kind of opportunity has been both eye-opening and inspirational. "I had no concrete experience with sustained scientific research before SHArK," explains John Tuddenham. "It's given me a good sense of both the struggles and the excitement. It's confirmed my desire to go on and make chemistry my potential career."