ETX 180 Field Trip Highlights Synchrotron Science and Metal Research

Students in ETX 180: Chemistry and Toxicology of Metals recently traveled to the Advanced Light Source (ALS) at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory to learn how cutting-edge synchrotron techniques are used to study metals in environmental and biological systems. During the visit, students toured three beamlines and met with scientists who use high-energy X-rays to investigate metal speciation in environmental samples, characterize metals in biological tissues, and determine the three-dimensional structures of proteins involved in metal transport and toxicity. The field trip provided students with a firsthand look at advanced analytical tools and different career paths with a degree in ETX.