The College of Science is a place where people are passionate about science, curious about the world around them, dedicated to learning, and enthusiastic about discovering new things.
Our college is also a place where many are committed to improving their communities through advancing scientific knowledge and service.
sheCodes
Every year since 2016, the science club sheCodes has hosted the Future Women Developers Conference (FWD). It’s a full-day event on the CPP campus that invites local middle and high school students to campus to learn about technology, explore potential career paths, and gain hands-on experience through technical workshops that introduce them to coding. The event concludes with a student-led panel featuring CPP sheCodes students.
SheCodes members mentor and guide small groups of students, answering their questions, and offering advice. After the event, students are encouraged to submit their projects, which are showcased on the sheCodes website to celebrate their creativity and achievements.
“The ultimate goal is to help students—particularly young women—see that they belong in computer science and engineering,” Internal VP Kenia Velasco said. Their next event is April 2026.
Center for Community Engagement
In addition to numerous opportunities provided through science club membership, the Center for Community Engagement (CCE) on the CPP campus has volunteer opportunities. On Saturday, September 13, CPP faculty, staff, and students participated in a Day of Service. The CCE partnered with Habitat for Humanity and students helped with construction of 25 homes that are being built for those who lost their homes in the Alta Dena fire.
Laila Tatum, an honors student in computer science, is one of several science students who participated. “The most significant thing was contributing to a project that benefits so many families. Knowing that my efforts will help house people in need fulfills the part of me that enjoys helping others, and pushes me to continue doing so as I move forward in my academic journey and career,” said Tatum.
Motor Development Clinic
Through the Department of Kinesiology and Health Promotion (KHP), the Motor Development Clinic (MDC) serves children and adults with disabilities. For over 40 years the clinic has been providing individualized activity programs at a significantly lower cost than similar programs.
One mother put it this way, “You haven’t just given my child the ability to kick, to dribble, or to ride a bike, you’ve given my child his self-confidence. You’ve given him the ability to be included, to belong.”
The clinic also provides opportunities for CPP students to learn by doing under the guidance of faculty. Eighteen students presented at a national-level conference as part of an MDC presentation between 2023-2025. Last year the clinic provided services to 17 children and 38 adults. Seven families received MDC program fee scholarships made possible through the generous donation of retired CPP professor Sidney Blumner.
Prete Fellowships
Made possible by a generous gift from the Ernest Prete Jr. Foundation, Prete Fellows are CPP students who serve as role models to TK through 6th grade students at Kellogg Elementary School. Fellows are embedded in a class, help develop STEM curriculum and gain exposure to teaching while inspiring children to learn math and science.
The program includes a large community garden for outdoor learning. There are monthly volunteer days where parents can work but also learn about planting and contribute to the school, harvest and take some cilantro, and herbs from the garden. Food garden coordinators show how to get plants started at home.
Associate Professor Janel Ortiz, who is Director of the Prete Fellowships, also does outreach events every semester such as the “P22 Day” and “Beasts and Bones.”
Discovery Camps
Professor Steve Alas began the summer Discovery Camps in 2015 as a way to provide financial support for Science Educational Enhancement Services (SEES). Formerly called Discovery Science Camps, they have grown to include the horse center, fashion design, and entrepreneurship, as well as the longstanding computer, robotics, and science camps. The seven-week camps provide a vital service to the community, offering STEM educational experiences to children 7-14 that may inspire them to become scientists.
The Gift of Numbers
For over 20 years, the Gift of Numbers has taken its mission - making math fun – out into the community.
The program has two goals, first to provide a teaching experience to CPP students, and second to make math more interesting and engaging. There are no calculators or worksheets. “They have to build, they have to discover, they have to do stuff,” said Professor Greisy Winicki-Landman, who leads the program.
Currently the program is provided to Pomona Unified and Upland Unified School Districts. It is so popular that it receives more requests than can be accommodated.
Teacher Professional Development
The Center for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (CEMaST) is the central hub through which the College of Science promotes excellent and effective science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) teaching and learning at all levels. The mission of the Center is to promote, implement, and study research-based practices in STEM education to enhance inclusive teaching and learning in our K-16 community. CEMaST conducts workshops, courses, and develops curriculum for and with teachers and CPP faculty, nurtures and supports STEM-related partnerships with local schools and CPP STEM educators, conducts rigorous research to improve STEM teaching and learning, and coordinates the subject matter preparation programs in science and advises students who are interested in preparing to be K-12 STEM teachers.
Through programs like the Summer Institute: Localizing Science for Elementary Education, led by Associate Professor Jessica O. Perez, and the Motivating Learners course for CPP faculty and other faculty across the country, supported by Dr. Beardsley, our college is building a community dedicated to improving science teaching at all levels.
CEMaST faculty fellows also lead exciting outreach projects. For example, Dr. Marisol Diaz in the College of Education and Integrated Studies, led a Rocket Club to introduce students at Euclid Elementary School to basic engineering concepts like lift, thrust, and drag. Volunteers, including members from the CPP Liquid Rocket Lab, helped guide small groups of students as they built rockets Dr. Eluid Partida designed and led STEMillitas, a bilingual Spanish-English STEM camp for children ages 4 to 10. The camp engaged 18 children through a week of hands-on, inquiry-based activities grounded in local ecology, language development, and joyful learning. Dr. Blakey led CPP students to conduct outreach with local Pomona residents and students about bats.
Science on Tap
Science on Tap is a place for the public to explore the latest ideas in science and technology. Once every semester, faculty from CPP science or math give a talk and answer questions about their area of expertise. The event is open to the public and takes place on a Monday at 7 p.m., on the patio at Innovation Brew Works. The event was started by Associate Professor of biology Douglas Durrant who works with Associate Professor of chemistry Kathryn McCulloch to plan and coordinate the events.
Past events have included topics ranging from a computer scientist discussing autonomous vehicles to a biologist who shared her research on restoring forests after wildfires.
Making a Difference
These are just some of the ways the College of Science is serving the community. The college has many talented and caring individuals who give generously of their time and talent, making a difference both on and off campus.
