Sixteen girls visit MH’s Anaerobe Systems courtesy of AAUW

Published in the March 2-15, 2016 issue of Morgan Hill Life

By Staff Report

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Photo courtesy AAUW, Morgan Hill branch
A student learns the science of fermentation during a STEM workshop at Anaerobe Systems in Morgan Hill.

What’s in the soil that makes plants grow? What do microbes have to do with it? How does a fermentation system work? This is what 16 girls discovered in the Lauren Jenkins STEM Workshop held Feb. 18 and put on by American Association of University Women and Anaerobe Systems.

The girls started the day injecting tubes of sterile bell peppers with an anaerobic bacteria and later measured how much gas was produced. They learned how to identify bacteria, perform chromatography and test soil. (It’s not dirt!) Mike Cox, Anaerobe Systems CEO, tied it altogether showing how agriculture plant waste is a problem but can be a “solution” when fermented to substances that can be given back to the land.

The day ended with a STEM career panel joined by Dr. Alice Li, development bioengineer, from Intuitive Surgical (home of the da Vinci surgical robot). AAUW members Kayte East, Susie Parrish and Marissa Campi were instrumental presenting lectures, labs and careers panel.
Members Jenny Redfern, Susan Oldham-Fritts, Donna Dicker, Margaret McCann, Janet McElroy, Lori Mains and Mary Cox created the workshop from donations in memory of scientist Lauren Jenkins.