Oct 26, 2006 - Claremont, Calif. -

When the first-year chemistry lab students at Harvey Mudd College conducted lead contamination tests on soil gathered at a local school and park, they had a rapt audience at Vista del Valle Elementary School in Claremont. The 140 fourth, fifth and sixth graders, who watched the experiments on webcams in their classrooms, had as much interest in the results as the HMC freshmen.

The students were part of "The Lead Project," a unique research and educational program developed by the HMC Department of Chemistry, in collaboration with Vista and the California Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program.

"We’re looking at the problem of lead poisoning in children," Hal Van Ryswyk, HMC professor of chemistry explained. "The prevailing wisdom is that this is primarily a problem in housing. But recent research shows that there has to be another culprit."

One likely source is tetra-ethyl lead. Even though it was banned as a gasoline additive in 1986, the additive didn’t completely disappear from the environment. Airborne by tailpipe emissions, lead salts were carried onto the soil near highly trafficked roadways.

"Whatever hits the soil is there in perpetuity," said Van Ryswyk. "And when you see that there are a number of schools and parks close to major transportation corridors, that becomes a concern."

Because Vista is only blocks from the busy 10 Interstate, it was a logical site to test for contamination. Four days each week for four weeks, the freshmen traveled by van to the elementary school where they led lessons on math and science, collected soil samples with the elementary students and helped interpret the testing results.

Vista students were exposed to a range of technology, from the GPS radios used to pinpoint soil-sampling locations to the Webcam-equipped computers on loan from the college. The Web cams enabled the younger students to watch the freshman—geared up in their HMC lab with aprons and face masks—use microwave-assisted digestion and an atomic absorption spectrometer to analyze the samples.

The project went beyond an exchange of math lessons and technology, said Ley Yeager, principal of Vista School. "I see the students from Harvey Mudd College as role models."

"We have a number of children here who would be the first in their families to go to college, so the exposure to college students is great," Yeager said. "I also think that hands-on experience is the best way to learn, especially when you’re dealing with technical concepts."

Working in the community and tackling issues with broad social implications fulfill an important mission of the college. According to Van Ryswyk, "We pride ourselves in educating scientists and engineers with an understanding of humanities and social sciences so they can take leadership roles and have an impact on society."

"When you’re doing real science you don’t spend all your time in the laboratory," said Ginna Kim, a joint major in chemistry and biology from Diamond Bar, California, and one of six sophomore preceptors. "You have to get out into the world and explore real problems."

The Lead Project has already had an impact on the Vista students.

Janette Muñoz, 10, wants to pursue a career in geology, a decision she made while working with the HMC freshmen. Fifth-grader, Nicholas Ibarra, who is interested in studying the solar system, said he plans to follow the example set by the college students he met this fall. "I want to use science to make the world a better place."

The Lead Project is funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation and with additional matching funds from the Ludwick Family Foundation, and The Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation.