FIELD TRIP SETUP SHEET
Field trip Title:
Tour Cal Poly Pomona’s Agricultural Research Centers
Convention City:
ANAHEIM
Field trips Manager: Anne Maben C1: (323) 632-1084 C2: (562) 833-4127 FAX (323) 971-5890
afmaben@charter.net
Amy Coppenger W: (562) 951-1621 C: 562-833-9473 acoppenger@lbaop.org
FACILITY INFORMATION
Name of Facility
Cal Poly Pomona’s Agricultural Research Centers
Contact Person at Facility Christy Barnecut, Admin Coordinator, Research
Address of Facility
College of Agriculture, Cal Poly Pomona, 3801 West Temple
Avenue, Pomona, CA 91768
Telephone # of facility
909-869-3637
FAX # of facility
909-869-2186
EMAIL of facility:
cbarnecut@csupomona.edu
Name & telephone # of backup contact person: Dr. David Still @ 909-869-2138
Field trip guide at the facility? Yes
Name & telephone # of facility field trip guide: Dr. David Still @ 909-869-2138, Dr. Marie
Caudill @ 909-869-2168, Dr. Sowmya Mitra @909-869- 2989 and Dr. Steve Wickler @ 909869-2155
NSTA FIELD TRIP DESCRIPTION
Join us for unique, cutting-edge presentations and tours at Cal Poly Pomona.
Participants will rotate through four critical areas of agricultural research. On one tour,
you will see first-hand how the high-tech world of genomics, genetics, and physiology is
used to discover plants’ secrets and how this information is used to improve the food
you put on your table. For our second tour, learn the science behind the art of growing
grass. We’ll focus on the effects of environment on different turfgrass varieties,
irrigation efficiency, water quality, fertility requirements and new herbicides for weed
management. In a third lab, see how essential vitamins optimize our health and how our
genetic make-up may influence these requirements. Participants will get a closer look at
methodology and machines utilized in identifying nutrient requirements in humans with
respect to their genes. At the world-renowned Equine Center, we’ll study locomotion in
terrestrial animals, using the horse. A horse will be run on a high-speed equine treadmill
and participants will measure stride frequency as a function of speed in two gaits: trot
and canter. Participants will need a stopwatch (wristwatches with stopwatch capabilities
are fine). Cameras are welcome--there's nothing like being next to a 500 kg animal that is
running! Other requirements for our field trip are a sharp pencil and a sharp mind.
Please wear comfortable shoes!
Detailed Tour Description (not for program)
Tour presented by Dr. Marie Caudill:
Folate and choline are essential nutrients that play a critical role in health maintenance.
Our research addresses how much of these vitamins we need to optimize our health and how
our genetic make-up may influence these requirements. A visit to our laboratory will disclose
the methodology utilized in identifying nutrient requirements in humans with respect to their
genes. Please wear comfortable shoes.
Tour presented by Dr. Shoumo Mitra:
All of us enjoy the green turfgrass patches at home, parks, schools, sports fields and golf
courses. Though it seems like it is quite easy to grow grass there is a lot of science behind the
art of growing grass. Our research focuses on the effects of environment on different turfgrass
varieties, irrigation efficiency, water quality, fertility requirements and new herbicides for weed
management. We will organize a tour of our three field research areas on campus.
Tour presented by Dr. David Still:
Because relatively few plants have been domesticated scientists must continue to
improve the performance of those being used today. Our laboratory studies plants to find out
how they work and how to make them work better. You will see first-hand how the high-tech
world of genomics, genetics, and physiology is used to discover plant’s secrets and how this
information is used to improve the food you put on the table. The only requirements for this
section of the field trip are a sharp pencil and a sharp mind.
Tour presented by Dr. Steve Wickler:
 Our laboratory studies locomotion in terrestrial animals. OUr primary research model is the
horse, an animal adapted for cursorial locomotion. In this laboratory session, participants will
explore the biomechanics of the stride as a function of speed. A horse will be run on a highspeed equine treadmill and participants will measure stride frequency as a function of speed
in two gaits: trot and canter. The treadmill is in the barn, so its covered, but exposed to
ambient temperatures and has dirt floors. Participants will need a stopwatch (wristwatches
with stopwatch capabilities are fine). Cameras are welcome--there's nothing like being next
to a 500 kg animal that is running!]