Experience Learn by Doing
Every day, Cal Poly students learn, work and conduct research in state-of-the-art labs, fields, orchards, forests and facilities that prepare them to lead their industries. Built and shaped over decades, these living laboratories continue to evolve to meet the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow.
For generations, our alumni have carried Learn by Doing into their careers, driving industries forward while giving back their expertise and support to Cal Poly. As part of our 125th Anniversary Celebration, we invite you to return, explore and experience the Learn by Doing legacy you helped create.
Agricultural Education and Communication
Walk through 40 years of Brock Center history and discover the people, stories, and experiences that have shaped its legacy in agricultural communication. Explore how the center has evolved over four decades and continues to support the next generation of agricultural communicators.
Building 10, Room 234
Animal Science
Experience the Charles and Claire Jacobson Animal Health Center with a guided tour. Opened this fall, the center supports the next generation of leaders in veterinary medicine, animal ag and healthcare, with multi-use spaces for teaching, research and clinical training.
Animal Health Center, Building 165
Explore The Oppenheimer Family Equine Center during a walking tour of the complex and it's facilities. The center provides students with real-world experience in equine care, training and management through work in modern facilities that prepares them to be future leaders in the industry.
The Oppenheimer Family Equine Center, Building 32
Discover one of the largest student-supported dairies in the nation with a guided tour of the sprawling facility. This innovative complex has students learning all aspects of daily operation from production, processing and products technology including robotic milking and new vermifiltration system.
Dairy Complex, Building 18
We all scream for ice cream, especially craft, student made ice cream fresh from the Cal Poly Dairy and local farms. Cal Poly student-made ice cream will be available to taste and purchase.
Creamery, Building 18
Take a student-guided driving tour in the comfort of the AgVenture Bus and discover the diverse hands-on facility offerings available to CAFES students. The tour will drive past and stop at the J and G Lau Family Meat Processing Center, Animal Nutrition Center, Poultry Unit, Beef Cattle Evaluation Center as well as the Sheep/Goat Unit.
Tour start location: TBD
BioResource and Agricultural Engineering
Take a tour of the newly opened Marderosian Family and Bee Sweet Automation Lab and get a first-hand look at the projects that our students are engaged in. Learn more about the lab and talk with students who will be working on their robotic projects.
Marderosian Family and Bee Sweet Automation Lab, Building 159
Experience Industry Management
The Experience (X) Innovation Lab provides students, faculty, staff and industry partners with an opportunity to reimagine, reshape, restructure and redefine human-centered experiences. Drop by the X Innovation Lab in the Frost Center (181-205) to see interactive displays of our projects and engage in your own Learn by Doing through the co-creation of an experience of your choice.
Frost Center, Building 181, Room 205
Food Science and Nutrition
Come try a focaccia made out of wine grape pomace along side a roasted carrot pomace romesco. Together, these two dishes showcase our ongoing research into upcycling food processing waste, along with a past product development challenge from our Food Science Product Development course.
Frost Center Culinary Lab, Building 181, Room 124
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Frost Center Sensory Lab, Building 181
Plant Sciences
Visit stunning landscapes from the world’s five Mediterranean climates during a tour of the Leaning Pine Arboretum. Nestled on five acres, this living classroom features gardens that have been designed, built and maintained by students representing a collection of class projects, laboratory exercises and senior projects that have evolved over the past 50 years.
Horticulture Unit, Building 48
Stop by for an open house at the recently opened Plant Sciences complex. This stop will offer you the opportunity to experience the growth chamber, visit classrooms, see student research demonstrations and drop-in the labs.
Plant Sciences Complex, Building 159
Take a walking tour and see the growing operations and experience the hands-on learning opportunities that our students have everyday. The guided tour will take you around the orchards and fields directly outside Wine and Viticulture Center and Crop Unit.
Get a hands on demonstration of our student's research project on potting mix and methods.
Horticulture Unit off Via Carta above the H-16 parking lot
Visit the Horticulture Greenhouses and see where the magic happens. See the poinsettias before they go on sale to the public, and get an inside look at the renovations to the facility.
Horticulture Unit Greenhouses off Via Carta above the H-16 parking lot
Wine and Viticulture
Take a tour of the JUSTIN and J. LOHR Center for Wine and Viticulture and see the state-of-the-art, 5,000-case bonded 15,600-square-foot winery, the viticulture and enology labs, lecture/reception areas and shared offices for faculty and students in the 2,000-square-foot E. & J. Gallo Winery & Family Building.
Tours will take place at 11 a.m. and12 p.m. People can join the group anytime.
JUSTIN and J. LOHR Center for Wine and Viticulture, Building 156
Experience and taste student made wine and take a walking tour of the beautiful JUSTIN and J. LOHR Center for Wine and Viticulture, Cal Poly's state-of-the-art facility for wine production, teaching and research.
JUSTIN and J. LOHR Center for Wine and Viticulture, Building 156