Club Friday! My day with student clubs at American River College

Last week I attended two science-based student clubs on the American River College (ARC) campus, the Biotech Club and the Research Club.

I'm the Faculty Advisor for the ARC Biotech Club, and we started to get organized for the semester by selecting our club officers.

#AmericanRiverCollege Biotech Club is meeting today - getting organized for this semester's activities pic.twitter.com/UMyWxMBymK
— Ken Kubo (@kmkubo) September 13, 2013

Theresa Schlacta, #AmericanRiverCollege alumnus (now living in SoCal) talking with Biotech Club. pic.twitter.com/hvc7hn2PgR
— Ken Kubo (@kmkubo) September 13, 2013

Dan Tipton @nvbiotech is coordinating the #AmericanRiverCollege Biotech Club officer elections pic.twitter.com/Sj3HLmw9Sq
— Ken Kubo (@kmkubo) September 13, 2013

I also attended the ARC Research Club. Shih-Wen Young (Physics), the Faculty Advisor, helped students start the club last spring, and I serve as the Co-Advisor for the club.

New Science Research Club for #AmericanRiverCollege students! Advisors: Prof. Shih-Wen Young (Physics) and me http://t.co/onJYPXgqNP
— Ken Kubo (@kmkubo) March 22, 2013

At last week's meeting, the Research Club officers described the activities for the fall semester. 

The #AmericanRiverCollege Research Club is meeting today. We're all for #STEM! cc @nvbiotech pic.twitter.com/fC4j1vKwCS
— Ken Kubo (@kmkubo) September 13, 2013

Nile, the Research Club VP, is describing new ideas for #STEM projects #AmericanRiverCollege pic.twitter.com/TBe0YuyS25
— Ken Kubo (@kmkubo) September 13, 2013

Officers Megan, Ash, and Nile up front for #AmericanRiverCollege Research Club pic.twitter.com/YnrceSJZdl
— Ken Kubo (@kmkubo) September 13, 2013

Demo of Brainwave Visualizer at #AmericanRiverCollege Research Club #STEM pic.twitter.com/DD3doT4OjQ
— Ken Kubo (@kmkubo) September 13, 2013

Here's more information about the Brainwave Visualizer, which graphically represents your brain activity in real time.

So why should we support student clubs?

1. Clubs give students more hands-on experience with what we learn in the classroom.

#AmericanRiverCollege Biotech Club testing soil microbes on indicator culture media pic.twitter.com/FeLoXruurk
— Ken Kubo (@kmkubo) April 19, 2013

2. Clubs give students opportunities to share and outreach to the community.

Club Day at #AmericanRiverCollege! #Science rocks! pic.twitter.com/liqikiu2Ow
— Ken Kubo (@kmkubo) March 21, 2013

Cool!! Seen at Club Day #AmericanRiverCollege - Sun Spotter! pic.twitter.com/UmZYrPqPIQ
— Ken Kubo (@kmkubo) March 21, 2013

The #AmericanRiverCollege @nvbiotech at #CSUS College Making it Happen. It's a student DNA rush! pic.twitter.com/23tWsBhNCr
— Ken Kubo (@kmkubo) April 15, 2013

3. And we go on cool field trips!

American River College students/faculty learning about astrobiology at NASA Ames Research Center @NASAAmes pic.twitter.com/GiSBacKP
— Ken Kubo (@kmkubo) December 6, 2012

In case you are interested:

The ARC Biotech Club meets 12 - 1 pm in Room 490 on Fridays arcbiotechclub@gmail.com

The ARC Research Club meets 3 - 4 pm in Room 307 on Fridays arcresearchclub@gmail.com