STEM

Getting a paper past pee review

gregladen — Wed, 04 Oct 2017 10:05:45 +0000

Getting a paper past pee review

OK, maybe that's a bit extreme, but some kids take longer than others ...

But seriously, this is a heartwarming and touching story of science reaching into childhood and yanking some poor unsuspecting kid into the world of ... academia...

From Once Teased For Her Love Of Bugs, 8-Year-Old Co-Authors Scientific Paper.

REVIEWER THREE

Sophia was a bug loving 8 year old (reminds me of my neighbor) who's mother put her in touch with the Entomological Society of Canada, and this eventually led to Sophia's collaboration on a paper that was recently published.

The paper, published in the Annals of the Entomological Society of America, is called: Engaging for a good cause: Sophia's Story and Why #BugsR4Girls by Morgaan Jackson and Sophia Spencer. (Annals of the Entomological Society of America, Volume 110, Issue 5, 1 September 2017, Pages 439–448), comes with this abstract:

Scientists, particularly those involved with nonapplied or “basic” science, are often asked to justify the broader impacts of their work, or more acutely, how they and their work contribute to society. Although it may be difficult to articulate the immediate importance of providing names for new flies, the inherent value of knowledge is undeniable. At times, however, the positive impact scientists have on society, or even on a single individual, can burst into reality in real-time. Here we examine one such example: a tweet and hashtag that circled the globe in support of a young girl being bullied for her entomological passion. We explore the responses to the tweet, within Twitter and in the larger media landscape, and what they mean for entomology, scientific societies using social media, and the promotion of women in science, and provide recommendations for increasing engagement on social media to improve representation of science.

Hat Tip: Adam

gregladen Wed, 10/04/2017 - 06:05

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Science Education

STEM

Science Education

Pee review?

Notable Women in the Physical Sciences

gregladen — Wed, 24 May 2017 13:55:51 +0000

Notable Women in the Physical Sciences

Did you ever hear the expression, "You're a real card!" Well, if you are a notable woman in the physical sciences, you just might be a card!

My sister has a project, and Amanda and my niece Koren and some others are involved, that puts notable women in the physical sciences on cards, with a bit of biographical information. The idea is to underscore women in STEM while at the same time getting cards! The long term model is to sell the cards to interested buyers, such as YOU, and use the net thusly obtained to get decks into classrooms.

So, here's what you need to do. Click here, and buy two decks of cards. One, you keep and play cards with, the other, you give to someone, perhaps a teacher or perhaps a young female who has shown interest in the physical sciences. Or, perhaps, you place one of these card decks somewhere were cards go, like a local bar or coffee shop that has some games, or at the cabin or something.

In addition, at this early stage of their project, they could use some plain old donations, so please consider doing that as well.

I have already heard from several physical science teachers that these cards are great and that they are doing things with them in the classroom.

As a science writer, I was at first shocked and dismayed to find that the science writers in the deck were on the Joker card! But when I asked my sister about it, she told me the Jokers are the most sought after cards for the science communicators, because Jokers are the most flexible and a bit on the wild side, and can cope and adapt to any situation. So, I suppose that's OK (or is she joshin' me?).

Anyway, have a look, pass it around, pick up some cards (buy double if your game is Canasta). I am not joking when I say the cards are great!

gregladen Wed, 05/24/2017 - 09:55

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I was already aware of several of those women. In fact, I have attended a talk by Carolyn Porco (king of diamonds) and cited the work of Ingrid Daubechies (seven of clubs). Most if not all of them should get a higher profile. For instance, there is the joke about the No-Bell Prize: Jocelyn Bell Burnett, who actually discovered pulsars, did not get a share of the Nobel Prize that honored that work.

Done! Thanks for the heads up. Particularly pleased to find Vera Rubin on the list, and will study up on the rest.

The cards are wonderful - Hayhoe only one small piece of them all! Going to order more. I agree the Joker is a special signifier.

Scratch Programming For Kids, By The Cards

gregladen — Wed, 25 Jan 2017 14:00:09 +0000

Scratch Programming For Kids, By The Cards

Last October I reviewed Scratch Programming Playground, by Al Sweigart.

You will recall that Scratch is a programming language that uses drag and drop elements to construct a program.

Individual objecgts, including "sprites" that can move around on the screen, as well as static graphic elements, sounds, etc. get their own code, and this code can be set up to start under various conditions, such as when something touches something, or the user hits a certain key, etc.

This allows for the development of very simple but fun programs, and vey complicated ones as well.

Scratch is normally implemented on an MIT web page, though it can be installed on a computer for local use. Increasingly, specialized versions of Scratch are being used for robotics. I have predicted that Scratch will for the basis of the programming language that will give normal humans access to the Internet of Things.

The image on the right is a segment of code for an implementation of Pac-Man on Scratch.

This programming code applies to a sprite that looks like the yellow Pac-Man thingie. The entire block runs when a certain ("start") signal is received, causing the sprite to point in a certain direction and go to a certain location, to start the game.

The next block is repeated "forever" (not really, but until the program is terminated or the loop exited on purpose).

Then the various "if" blocks determine what happens. If Pac-Man's red part (a little dot out in front of itself) touches anything black, which basically means clear runway to move along, then it moves forward. Then, a series of if blocks pick up signals form the game player's arrow keys, causing Pac-Man to change direction. The controls basic movement of the Pac-Man sprite around the board.

Elsewhere in the code, the Pac-Man eating monsters are controlled, and one of those uses the code shown here on the right. Once the game starts, this monster ("Pinky") moves to a starting point, then for the entire game glides in the direction of Pac-Man until it is killed.

That gives you an idea. For more of that, and information about the book I recommend you use to learn Scratch, I mean, give to your kid to learn scratch, go here.

And now I have something else for you.

Scratch Coding Cards: Creative Coding Activities for Kids is a collection of cards that you, er, your kids, can use to learn Scratch programming. This is rated for kids 8 or above, but I think they can be easily used by younger kids, with a modest amount of adult help.

The cards come in sets that go together meaningfully, and they are color coded. For example, there is a set of "Let's Dance Cards." This includes coding examples addressing sequencing, music, taking turns, leaving a trail, etc.

The front of each card gives a visual indication of what the result is going to look like, and the back has the code. This is typically further divided (on the back) in to three parts: Get ready (what you need to have, know, etc.), the code itself (like the code blocks shown above, but generally very little bits at a time), and a "try it" prompt or a helpful tip of some kind.

There are sections or racing, hide and seek, story telling, and other projects.

At first I was wondering why they don't just make this into a book, but then I remembered that kids like to play with things that are explicitly not books. Also, the cards to not have to stay together or in order. Indeed, you can take cards from different project groups and put them together to create new programming projects, to some extent.

Scratch Coding Cards: Creative Coding Activities for Kids is a fun addition to one's set of programming tools. If you gave a kid a book on Scratch for one holiday or birthday, this may be a good followup next time around a few months later.

gregladen Wed, 01/25/2017 - 09:00

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Super Cool Tech and Kids Programming Books

gregladen — Fri, 11 Nov 2016 19:17:24 +0000

Super Cool Tech and Kids Programming Books

I just received two books that I will be reviewing in more detail later, but wanted to let you know about now.

Coding Projects in Scratch: A step by step guide by DK Publishers is a new scratch coding book. I got a copy a couple of days ago and have been going through it, and found it to be excellent. I'll be including it in my Science Oriented Holiday Shopping Guide for Kids Stuff, which I'll have out soon, but I wanted to give you a heads up first. From the publishers:

Using fun graphics and easy-to-follow instructions, Coding Projects in Scratch is a straightforward, visual guide that shows young learners how to build their own computer projects using Scratch, a popular free programming language.
Kids can animate their favorite characters, build games to play with friends, create silly sound effects, and more with Coding Projects in Scratch. All they need is a desktop or laptop with Adobe 10.2 or later, and an internet connection to download Scratch 2.0. Coding can be done without download on https://scratch.mit.edu.

Step-by-step instructions teach essential coding basics and outline 18 fun and exciting projects, including a personalized birthday card; a "tunnel of doom" multiplayer game; a dinosaur dance party animation with flashing lights, music, and dance moves—and much more.

The simple, logical steps in Coding Projects in Scratch are fully illustrated with fun pixel art and build on the basics of coding, so that kids can have the skills to make whatever kind of project they can dream up.

Also to be featured in the Holiday Shopping guide, this very interesting technology book mainly for young folk. At first I wasn't sure how much I'd like it, but then, once I started going through it, I couldn't put it down.

Super Cool Tech is like a coffee table book for nerds. It is designed to look like a laptop (see the picture at the top of the post) and that is how you open it and use it.

See today's best innovations and imagine tomorrow's big ideas in Super Cool Tech. This cutting-edge guide explores how incredible new technologies are shaping the modern world and its future, from familiar smartwatches to intelligent, driverless cars.

Packed with more than 250 full-color images, X-rays, thermal imaging, digital artworks, cross-sections, and cutaways, Super Cool Tech reveals the secrets behind the latest gadgets and gizmos, state-of-the-art buildings, and life-changing technologies.

Lift the unique laptop-inspired book cover to see incredible architectural concepts around the world, such as the Hydropolis Underwater Hotel and Resort in Dubai, and the River Gym, a human-powered floating gym in New York City. Discover how a wheelchair adapts to its surroundings and learn how a cutting board can give the nutritional information of the food being prepared on it.

From 3-D-printed cars to robot vacuum cleaners, Super Cool Tech reveals today's amazing inventions and looks ahead to the future of technology, including hologram traffic lights and the Galactic Suite Hotel in space. Perfect for STEAM education initiatives, Super Cool Tech makes technology easy to understand, following the history of each invention and how they impact our everyday lives, and "How It Works" panels explain the design and function of each item using clear explanations and images.

Designed in DK's signature style, Super Cool Tech is the ultimate guide to exploring and understanding the latest gadgets and inventions while looking ahead to the future of technology.

gregladen Fri, 11/11/2016 - 14:17

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Just to let you know these actually get read... the boys are all excited about "Coding Projects in Scratch". The youngest (7) read the first page to me this morning.

Electronics for Kids: Great new book for kids and their adults

gregladen — Sat, 03 Sep 2016 19:32:12 +0000

Electronics for Kids: Great new book for kids and their adults

The simplest project in the new book Electronics for Kids: Play with Simple Circuits and Experiment with Electricity! by Øyvind Nydal Dahl is the one where you lean a small light bulb against the two terminals of a nine volt battery in order to make the light bulb turn on.

The first several projects in the book involve making electricity, or using it to make light bulbs shine or to run an electromagnet.

The most complicated projects are the ones where you make interactive games using LED lights and buzzers.

Electronics for Kids: Play with Simple Circuits and Experiment with Electricity! does almost no electricity theory. Thankfully. It simply delves in to messing around with electricity (and in so doing, provides basic theory, of course).

This is a book about how to play with electricity, not how to get a Masters Degree in electricity. In other words, any kid, the ones who seem destine for a career in electronic engineering and the ones who don't, can get along in this book because it does not assume itself to be a building brick to a greater career. Yet the projects are interesting and informative and educational, and any kid who does a dozen of these projects is going to learn.

This kind of activity, which should involve parents for most kids, is the cure for the sense of depression you feel when you go to the toy store and look at the "science" section and everything you see is crap. Just get this book, order 50 bucks worth of parts, and get to work-fun. Then order some more parts, probably.

No kids' book on electronics would be complete without a batter made from something you get in the produce section.

This book for kids is very kid oriented, as it should be. One of the first practical projects you build is an alarm system to keep your parents the heck out of your room. You can make a noisy musical instrument. You can make a device that makes sounds some humans can hear (the kids, likely) and some can't (parents).

Although soldering is done, it is minimal and, frankly, can probably be avoided by using alternative techniques. But really, it is not that hard and one should not be too afraid of it.

A lot of the projects use and develop logic circuits. Kids actually love logic circuits, I think because they end up rethinking a bit about how tho think about simple relationships. And, it is good to know this stuff.

Unlike many electronic kits you can buy (which can be quite fun and educational in their own right) this approach does not rely on ICs (integrated circuits) that produce magical results with poorly described inputs and hookups. There are some basic ICs, including gates, an inverter, flip flops, and a timer. These are very straight forward circuits that are mostly (except the timer) really just very fancy switches.

The web site that goes with Electronics for Kids: Play with Simple Circuits and Experiment with Electricity! gives you a list of all the parts used in the book, with enough information to find them easily on line or at a hardware or electronics store. The book suggests a multimeter, which is probably the most expensive thing on the list. (this one is perfectly good and is about 35 bucks.) Other tools include a soldering iron and related bits, a wire cutter, some scissors, tape, etc.

Many of the parts, including a breadboard, LEDs, hook up wires of various kinds, and pretty much all the resistors, capacitors, etc. etc. can also be used with the more sophisticated Arduino projects, should you end up going in that direction.

This is a really fun book. If you have a kid of the right age (maybe from six to 12, with 100% adult involvement under 10 years) get it now, secretly, get some parts, and work your way through several of the projects. Then, make it (and the parts) a holiday present. Then look really smart.

This chapter-end section give you an idea of the level of the projects. There is a lot of stuff in here. All doable, but it will take a while to get through it all.

Here is the overview table of contents (the book is much more detailed than suggested by this top level TOC):

PART 1: Playing with Electricity
Chapter 1: What Is Electricity?
Chapter 2: Making Things Move with Electricity and Magnets
Chapter 3: How to Generate Electricity

PART 2: Building Circuits
Chapter 4: Creating Light with LEDs
Chapter 5: Blinking a Light for the First Time
Chapter 6: Let's Solder!
Chapter 7: Controlling Things with Circuits
Chapter 8: Building a Musical Instrument

PART 3: Digital Electronics
Chapter 9: How Circuits Understand Ones and Zeros
Chapter 10: Circuits That Make Choices
Chapter 11: Circuits That Remember Information
Chapter 12: Let's Make a Game!

Appendix: Handy Resources

gregladen Sat, 09/03/2016 - 15:32

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The electromotor worked brilliantly. I did use a much thinner copper wire for the coil. Otherwise it would have been to heavy (or to weak) to work proper.
Now I hope the kids (15 of them, in age between 9 and 12) will be able to build one themselves.
That won't be easy because most of them live in a cartoon-world where you just tie some feathers to your arms and off you fly.
Reality is often much more harsh.

If you can get that feather thing to work, that would be great!

Women and Physics by Laura McCullough

gregladen — Tue, 30 Aug 2016 05:29:20 +0000

Women and Physics by Laura McCullough

Women and Physics by Laura McCulloch is a concise addition to the IOP Science Concise Physics series.

McCullough is an award winning Professor of Physics at UW Stout, and served for several years as the chair of that university’s Chemistry and Physics Department. Her research focuses on physics education, and gender and science. By both chance and design, I know a lot of people in this area, and I’m pretty sure IOP Science could not have had a better choice in authors for this important book.

How do you make a physicist? Well, you start with a child, and poke at it for 25 year or so until it become something, and maybe it will become a physicist. Meanwhile, the growing and developing individual passes through several stages. If the child is a male, those stages are called opportunities. If the child is a female, they are called filters.

McCullough writes,

When I walked into my physics graduate school on day one and there were twenty-four men and me, I knew that we had a problem. A problem begging for a solution, and because I am a scientist and what I do is solve problems, that moment was the beginning of what has been twenty years of research on gender issues in science for me. I don’t know all the answers, and I doubt the problem will be solved in my lifetime, but I know more than I knew then, and sharing that is part of the solution. Hence this book.

McCullough surveys and describes the filters, and the stages. She looks at how women are challenged at every stage. She describes what the field of Physics has done so far to remove gender biased barriers to women’s progress, and what needs to be done in the future.

I should probably mention that the sciences in general, the physical sciences in particular, and super-duper-especially physics (in its various forms) have a) not allowed women to progress fairly at any stage, ever, and b) still manage to have been shaped and influenced by the important work of a number of women. I’m sure you already knew that, but just in case, there it is.

This isn’t just about institutions. It is also about how individuals interact, about social and cultural stereotypes and biases, and individual decisions.

Here is how McCullough underscores the filtering process:

A little girl waits patiently at a science exhibit for another child to finish. Her brother butts in when he comes over to see it and she never gets her turn.

A young woman in high school physics is always relegated to be the record keeper and never gets a chance to play with the equipment.

A woman walks into her first day of physics graduate school and sees twenty four men and no other women.

A physics professor is called ‘Mrs’ by her students instead of ‘Dr’.

An assistant professor is placed on every departmental committee in order to

have female representation.

A woman makes a suggestion at her weekly research group meeting. Her idea is ignored. Three minutes later, a man makes the same suggestion and is applauded.

How many physicists are women? What does the process of filtering, which in some ways applies to all would-be physicists of any gender, do differently with women? How are these trends changing?

Two of McCullough’s core chapters are titled “What helps, what hurts: family and education” and “What helps, what hurts: family and career.”

These social and professional spaces are where the rubber meets the road. This is where, to use a physics metaphor for a social problem affecting physics, kinetic energy (desire and motivation) and friction (the status quo, power structures, the patriarchy) come into play.

Is there a “masculinist” and a “feminist” nature of science? This is the sort of question that can cause spit to come flying out of the heads of the most mild mannered seemingly non-sexist male scientists, especially in physics (many biological scientists know there are gendered features of science, at multiple levels). I suspect that in physics, this is mostly surficial gendering, which has profound impacts on women’s careers. In other sciences, human genders interact with other human genders, and non-human genders, in all sorts of ways. My own biological science with respect to humans had to be fully gender bound, as my field studies could only be done with male subjects. My female colleagues could only work with female subjects. I’m not sure if physicists have the same issues. I suppose we should consider ourselves lucky (maybe) that in the naming of quantum-level aspects of matter-energy, male-female gender was never employed (as opposed to color, orientation, strength, etc.) Imagine what cold have been…

But I digress. McCullough writes about this aspect of gendering in the physical sciences as well, as ingress to the topic of covert discrimination.

I regard this book as something of a manual for women in physics, and for men who may be, should be, mentors. It is for teachers of physical science (or, really, all science) in high schools and colleges. These are all people who a) already feel they know what is going on with gender discrimination, but b) often mistakingly ignore that this is a separate subfield of study and no, they don’t. Parents of kids (boys and girls) who are leaning into the sciences would benefit too, but they are probably not that likely to read an academic book like this. Note to self: Suggest to Laura that she write a version of this for the families.

Women and Physics is available now, go read it.

gregladen Tue, 08/30/2016 - 01:29

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Science and Education

DN Lee Is Now A Book! #STEM

gregladen — Wed, 20 Apr 2016 17:58:14 +0000

DN Lee Is Now A Book! #STEM

DN Lee used to be a mere human, a biologist and a great person, but still, just a human. But now she is a book!

Urban Biologist Danielle Lee (Stem Trailblazer Bios) is part of a series exploring, well, STEM trailblazers.

You Probably know of DN Lee from her famous blog now at Scientific American but formerly at Scienceblogs, The Urban Scientist.

After earning degrees studying animal behavior, Danielle Lee wanted to share her love of science with young people. Through urban outreach she has brought budding scientists into professional labs. She's walked them through the steps of the scientific method. And she's shown them that science doesn't have to be intimidating. In her popular Urban Scientist blog, Lee shares backyard science and outreach work. She also writes about her own research and other women and people of color. Discover what this influential scientist is doing to encourage the next generation of scientists.

Congratulations Danielle!

gregladen Wed, 04/20/2016 - 13:58

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At Festival Expo 2016, Discover Why the Department of Defense is a National STEM Leader!

carlyo — Sat, 09 Apr 2016 20:27:09 +0000

At Festival Expo 2016, Discover Why the Department of Defense is a National STEM Leader!

As the nation’s largest federal employer of scientists and engineers, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has always been at the forefront of innovative and groundbreaking science and technology. DoD scientists and engineers have played a leading role in some of the world’s most advanced and life-changing technological breakthroughs, including the Internet, the Global Positioning System (GPS), virtual reality, voice recognition technology, autonomous vehicles, texting, and cloud computing.

Get ready as the DoD -- one of the Festival´s earliest Sponsors -- brings an unforgettable array of high-profile activities and programs in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) to the USA Science & Engineering Festival Expo weekend celebration, April 16-17 in Washington, DC!

"The DoD is thrilled to be a sponsor of this year’s 2016 USA Science and Engineering Festival in our nation’s capital," says Karen Saunders, Associate Director, Department of Defense STEM Development Program. "The DoD pavilion at the Festival Expo will cover over 6,500 square feet and feature numerous hands-on activities, interactive stage shows, and plenty of free giveaways." She adds: "The DoD’s presence at the Festival provides the public a window into the exciting and revolutionary technology produced each day by our STEM workforce. It also allows students, parents, educators and many others the opportunity to interact directly with DoD’s best and brightest scientists and engineers."

The DoD pavilion will include the following Services and Agencies:

● Air Force
● Army
● Navy
● National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA)
● Missile Defense Agency (MDA)
● National Security Agency (NSA)
● Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA)
● National Museum of Health and Medicine
● DoD STEM Development Program
● Office of Corrosion Policy and Oversight

Booths in the DoD pavilion will also feature a wide range of hands-on activities and plenty of cool giveaways. One of the main attractions will be the first-ever DoD Innovation Lightning Talk Stage, featuring 20+ entertaining presentations about DoD science and technology. Shows will begin roughly every 20 minutes, with topics including:

--"DoD Technology in Movies: Reality vs. Fiction"
--"Your Generation of Robotics"
--“The Militarized Lab Rat”
--“Solving the Enigma”
--And many more

But the excitement will not stop there, says Karen. "The DoD will also provide information on the many opportunities that the Department offers, such as internship and scholarship programs that allow high school and college students to directly apply what they are learning in the classroom, and permit them to get a firsthand view of what it means to be a DoD scientist or engineer. An example of this includes the DoD´s Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation (SMART) scholarship-for-service program, where college students are paid to go to school and receive a full-time DoD STEM job upon graduation."

Other notable DoD outreach programs include: the Military Child STEM Program in partnership with the National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI); sponsorship of FIRST Robotics teams; and the Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP).

For more information on these and other programs (including scholarships, internships, summer programs and teacher training), please visit the DoD´s new STEM website, www.DoDSTEM.us.

The Festival sincerely thanks the DoD and other major sponsors and supporters for helping to inspire the next generation of STEM innovators!

Click here to register for the Free USA Science & Engineering Festival.

carlyo Sat, 04/09/2016 - 16:27

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Festival Sponsor

4th USA Science & Engineering Festival

Department of Defense

US Department of Defense

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"Clap Your Hands" if you are Ready to Rock Out to Science with TMBG!

carlyo — Fri, 08 Apr 2016 01:22:34 +0000

"Clap Your Hands" if you are Ready to Rock Out to Science with TMBG!

They Might Be Giants will take the stage on Saturday, April 16th at the USA Science & Engineering Festival for two incredible rockin' shows! This amazing alternative and tech-inspired group -- widely known for its theme song for TV's Malcolm in the Middle and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and other works -- will have the attendees at the DC Convention Center rocking out to science all weekend long!

And like all performances at the Expo, this stage show is FREE!

https://youtu.be/Rm9abSP-YuI

A crowd favorite at the 2014 Festival Expo, TMBG wowed audiences with its electrifying pop melodies, vivid lyrics and penchant for science and technology. Expect the band -- armed with two new albums this year and a highly successful national and international tour (some dates which are already sold out) -- to raise the excitement meter even more for Festival Expo 2016!

Cool as its science- and pop-inspired music, TMBG, which has been critically acclaimed by Rolling Stone and other leading music media venues, is also recognized for its famous online creation known as Dial-A-Song which the group recently reintroduced at www.DialASong.com with a compilation of its most current music video tunes, including Answer, All the Lazy Boyfriends, End of the Rope, and Glean.

They Might Be Giants was formed in 1982 by musicians John Flansburgh and John Linnell of Brooklyn, NY, and later honed its unconventional and experimental style of alternative music for which it known today. In recent years, TMBG has also realized success in children's music (including science education with such songs as "Science is Real", "Meet the Elements", "I am a Paleontologist", and "Speed and Velocity").

In its 30-year career, the band has earned two Grammy Awards -- the first one in 2002 for its song "Boss of Me", which served as the theme to the TV show, Malcolm in the Middle, and the second in 2009 for the album, "Here Come the 123s." TMBG also has two platinum albums, and two gold albums.

Click here for further details on the stage show appearance of They Might Be Giants, as well as information on other exciting Expo performers for 2016.

carlyo Thu, 04/07/2016 - 21:22

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festival

performers

USA Science & Engineering Festival

Science Is A Family Affair: Spark Interest By Soothing Chapped Lips

carlyo — Thu, 07 Apr 2016 02:01:03 +0000

Science Is A Family Affair: Spark Interest By Soothing Chapped Lips

Parents don’t need a science degree to shape their child’s learning or to explore STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). There’s a little science and engineering behind everything we see each day. From day trips to talks around the dinner table, there are lots of easy and fun ways to spark a love of STEM. Your next conversation or outing could inspire the future engineer inside your child!

The Chevron STEM Zone — where students, teachers, and parents learn about how STEM solves real-life challenges — is a great place to continue the conversation. Techbridge, which has inspired girls to discover a passion for STEM through hands-on learning since 2000, will be there to offer fun, hands-on activities and provide information about inspiring kids to STEM. The Chevron STEM Zone returns to the USA Science & Engineering Festival in Washington, DC on April 16-17th.

Start by signing up for Techbridge’s free family guide, “Science is a Family Affair.” The guide has practical tips to incorporate STEM seamlessly into daily discussions and learning. Techbridge will also send you information about science gifts and STEM activities in your area. After you sign up, it’s time to inspire your budding engineer!

Chapped lips? Make your own lip balm! Techbridge volunteers will show you how by using beeswax, Shea butter, and coconut oil as a base, and by adding your own flavor with essential oils — just like chemical engineers do to create make-up and many products we use every day.

Next, turn on the lights! Participants at the Techbridge exhibit will learn to design and build a one-of-a-kind light-up wearable pin. They’ll use an LED light and coin cell battery to create a simple circuit and attach it to a foam shape. This is a fun hands-on example of how to use electrical components to create a circuit, just like an electrical engineer.

The long-term goal for both Techbridge and Chevron is to increase interest in STEM careers. In addition to sponsoring Techbridge at the festival, since 2009 Chevron has provided funding to expand Techbridge programs and its capabilities. Chevron also organizes field trips to its headquarters in San Ramon, California, where girls meet role models and learn about potential careers in STEM. By building girls’ confidence in STEM skills, Techbridge helps many find rewarding careers—and return to mentor the next generation.

But parents are the ultimate role models. Techbridge says research shows that, as a parent, you can teach your child that the brain is like a muscle that gets stronger and works better the more it is exercised. In the face of challenges, children with this mindset are more likely to be persistent and successful. It certainly helps if parents approach daily life with curiosity in STEM, which will help spark an interest in your children.

Techbridge’s work reminds us that by exciting and encouraging girls to pursue learning in STEM, you may inspire a girl to change the world. And that career might just start by learning how to make an electrical circuit or a product that soothes chapped lips.

carlyo Wed, 04/06/2016 - 22:01

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Chevron STEM Zone

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