Michael Romero, a high school senior from North Valley Stream, N.Y., examines a banana plant at a Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research Inc. greenhouse on campus July 1. Romero was among 4-H students at Cornell for Career Exploration II, sponsored by Cornell Cooperative Extension. Adriana Rovers/University Photography
About 250 4-H students from around New York gathered on campus last week for Career Exploration II, an annual program in its second year, sponsored by Cornell Cooperative Extension.
Taking part in their choice of nine separate program offerings, the students received instruction in areas from how to care for animals to understanding design and environmental analysis, said Kim Fleming, Cornell Cooperative Extension program coordinator.
"We are introducing the students to a number of career possibilities, showing them what the university environment is all about, and letting them see Cornell University from a student's point of view," said Ronald S. Jones, program leader in Cornell Cooperative Extension.
The Career Exploration program shows the students diverse job possibilities. For example, many students come wanting to be veterinarians, but through this experiential Career Exploration program, the students can view a wide range of other animal-health careers, such as research or advocacy.
"For many students -- particularly those from urban areas -- the rural, collegiate setting is a different world," Jones said. "This is a good way to expose them to possibilities."
The students, who are active 4-H members, not only participated in career-focused educational programs, but they engaged in swimming, bowling and karaoke during their visit.
Students had a choice of several career programs to attend, including animal health, astronomy, chemical ecology, design and environmental analysis, geological sciences, horticulture, rural sociology and space sciences/textiles.
The Boyce Thompson Institute Inc. portion of the career program -- a small pilot program this year -- allowed the students to conduct an experiment in chemical ecology and learn about the biological control of insects. It was the first time BTI, which is located at Cornell, had participated in this Cornell Cooperative Extension program, formerly known as June Events.
While investigating plants' chemical defenses against insects, the students at the BTI program also found out how to use insects as biological control agents against garden and greenhouse pests. The students used the lab of Alan Renwick, BTI chemist, and were helped through their experiments by many BTI volunteers.
"We are very pleased with how this turned out," said Bill Retzlaff, a research associate at BTI. "Kim Lopez and Stephanie Clendennen have done an excellent job conducting the hands-on chemical ecology experiment, and the students have had a good time learning about prospective careers in plant science and chemical ecology."
Career Explorations is looking to add more programs next year. Interested departments at Cornell should contact Kim Fleming, CCE program coordinator, at 255-2231.