Let’s say you’re a student who wants to do a biology experiment for a science fair. Maybe you want to figure out how a certain cancer works or engineer a drought-resistant plant or any other sort of higher level experiment. How in the world do you get started and then do the necessary experiments?
If you know a biologist, then you can get them to help you. Unfortunately most folks don’t know any scientists let alone biologists. What interested people usually have to do is start cold-calling institutions and universities, hoping to find someone willing to help. This is rarely successful.
But if you’re in the South Bay, there is another possibility – Schmahl Science. For around $40/hour, you can do your experiment with the help of a mentor in the lab facilities at Schmahl Science headquarters.
The price is a bargain by science standards but still ain’t cheap. For example, a cancer project can end up costing upwards of $3000! There are scholarships available and there is a sliding scale based on family income, but it will still definitely cost you. However, if you’re interested in doing a top notch science fair project and learning more about science as a career, you can’t beat it.
I recently had the chance to take a tour of the facilities and chat with the executive director, Belinda Schmahl. My first impression of the place was that it was a bit ramshackle. It seemed to have been cobbled together from various spare parts into a Frankenstein sort of creation. This is because it was.