Sharing a Love for Science
By Marya Barlow
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From an early age, Phil Hampton was destined for a career as a chemistry professor. 听
His father, a chemistry professor at a small liberal arts college, shared his love of science with his young son. By the age of 12, Hampton was conducting experiments using his own 鈥渟ouped-up鈥� chemistry set and exploding hydrogen gas in the basement of the family鈥檚 Iowa home. 听
鈥淢y favorite was the remote control fire bomb with kerosene,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a good thing that arm hair grows back quickly.鈥�
Today, Hampton is focusing his efforts on developing a passion for science in future generations 鈥� through much safer pursuits. In addition to teaching chemistry and mentoring students on research projects, he spearheads an effort to bring fun, hands-on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) programs to Ventura County students in grades K-12. With the help of a nearly $6-million federal Hispanic Serving Institution STEM grant for Project ACCESO (Achieving a Cooperative College Education through STEM Opportunities), he leads a CI initiative providing school outreach, career expos, community programs, and on-campus support for STEM students. He also organizes a popular free annual Science Carnival for children and their families with dozens of science activities disguised as play. 听
鈥淢any kids think science is hard or that it鈥檚 just about taking notes,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut it鈥檚 really about doing and exploration 鈥� finding out the answer to an open-ended question. If we encouraged every kid to experience science that way, it would transform their views.鈥� 听
Hampton鈥檚 enthusiastic approach has converted more than a few students into career scientists. 听
鈥淒r. Hampton鈥檚 mentorship and friendship have been the greatest and most positive influence in my life,鈥� said former student Sameh Helmy, now a Ph.D. candidate in Organic Chemistry at UCSB. 鈥淗e opened countless doors and directed me toward incredible opportunities. I hope to follow in his footsteps after graduating by attaining a faculty position at a teaching university and developing a research program focused on undergraduates 鈥� specifically those from underrepresented and disadvantaged backgrounds.鈥� 听
Hampton came to CI in 2001 as one of the first faculty members, leaving a position as an associate professor at University of New Mexico, a Research 1 University. As CI celebrates a decade of educating students, Hampton looks back with pride on the role he played in helping form the curriculum and student-centered culture. 听
In his free time, you can still find Hampton conducting science experiments in his garage, with help from his teenage son. His most recent obsession was building a Batman-themed bat sonolocation simulator for the Science Carnival. His device allows children to experience what it鈥檚 like to fly as a bat, blindfolded and relying only on sound, to find an object.
鈥淚 want students to experience science as play and fall in love with it,鈥� Hampton said. 听
鈥淚n my idyllic future, the State of California and possibly the nation would look to Ventura County as a model of what we can accomplish in building STEM interest and success.鈥�