By Ashley Burraston
The chemical engineering class of this year’s Brigham Young University Summer Scholars Academy learned about chemicals by completing several experiments and discussions over the course of the past week.
The 18 students who made up professor Thomas Fletcher’s chemical engineering class were a very tight knit group of kids, student Anne Wright said. Wehad an amazing time and would gladly do this again.
“The girls are close. There [are] only about five of us in here,” Wright said.
As part of their program, the class conducted a number of experiments.
The students lit methane on fire while it was still in the can.
They also tested the liquid capacity of diapers and had the opportunity to visit the BYU coal plant.
The students discussed the ratio of fuel to oxidizer, the blood drawing process and what they can do with the blood, and Dr. Bill Pitt’s cancer research.
On Thursday, the class was split into two smaller classes taught by Dr. Bill Pitt and Professor Kenneth A. Solen. In the two separate classes, the students were able to explore different areas of chemical engineering. Solen works with blood and makes parts for artificial heart and Dr. Pitt is known for his research with cancer.
“[Pitt and Solen] are good teachers,” academy attendee Nate Bayless said. “He knows what he’s talking about.”
“His class is like chemicals on steroids,” student Jason Steck adds.
The students expressed feelings of joy and a love of the class, Steck said. They loved the experiments and the intense discussions.
