The North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC) encourages students to perform their own original research. The college, like Alliant Energy, understands the critically important role plants play in our health and the health of our environment. Both organizations also prioritize workforce readiness and are committed to helping future science professionals from Iowa thrive in a rigorous field.
To help NIACC science students learn the fundamental skills they need to grow into successful careers, Alliant Energy donated $2,500 to the college’s foundation in 2023.
NIACC used the funds to purchase a state-of-the-art centrifuge. Biology and botany students routinely study photosynthesis, the process by which plants and algae turn light into fuel, which happens in a part of the cell called the chloroplast. This new centrifuge allows students to isolate chloroplast samples for study, and its advanced features protect the integrity of their work.
“We are deeply appreciative and proud of the relationship NIACC and the NIACC Foundation has with Alliant Energy,” said Molly Knoll, NIACC’s director of institutional advancement.
Alliant Energy has supported many NIACC science, technology, engineering and math activities. The company’s contributions helped fund biology classroom equipment and replace outdated physics equipment. The college has used funds to engage biology students in water quality testing, and even to establish a bee keeping program.
As a company with a strong commitment to workforce readiness, Alliant Energy is proud to energize NIACC’s botany lab as it prepares students for next generation science careers.
