1. Introduction
a. The
first “STEM Journey” was held at Cape Cod Community College in
Barnstable, MA on Saturday March 29, 2014, as a stand-alone event, to demonstrate
to students from K-12 that the fields of science, technology, engineering and
math can be both fun and interesting. This was a follow-up event to the award-winning
National Chemistry Week event that was hosted by the Boy Scouts in
collaboration with the American Chemical Society Northeastern Local Section and
the Environmental Chemistry Division.
b. The organizing committee for this event included
professional affiliations: Eben Franks, Event Chair, Dr. Jack Driscoll
(Northeastern Section of the American Chemical Society NESACS/Cape Cod Science
Cafe and PID Analyzers), Nancy Gifford (Board Member, Cape & Islands Boy
Scouts of America) , Kristina Ieardi (Cape Cod Community College), Jennifer
Maclachlan (ENVR/NESACS/Cape Cod Science
Café and PID Analyzers), Michael Riley (Cape & Islands Boy Scouts of
America) , Dennis Walczewski (Board Member: Cape & Islands Boy Scouts and
Suffolk University, & Amy Zahn, (Executive Director, Cape & Islands Boy
Scouts)
We were fortunate to have two very
capable Astronauts, Dr. Byron Lichtenberg and Captain Dan Burbank (Coast Guard)
as keynote speakers. Dr. Lichtenberg was introduced by the President of the
College, John Cox, to start the event.
Astronaut Presentation
c. The
program for the event was: http://www.scribd.com/doc/218359422/STEM-Journey-Program-Spacelab-to-Zero-G. That afternoon, the campus was bubbling with
enthusiastic young students rushing to hear the Astronauts, experience the
Planetarium, interactive Science Café or even shoot rockets.
2. Organizing
Organizations & Committee
a. Boy
Scout Council of Cape Cod
b. Cape
Cod Community College
c. NESACS-Cape
Cod Science Café
d. PID
Analyzers, LLC
e. Committee:
Eben Franks, Chair, Dr. Jack Driscoll, Nancy Gifford, Kristina Ierardi,
Jennifer Maclachlan, Michael Riley, Dennis Walczewski, & Amy Zahn
3. Speakers:
Astronauts: Dr. Byron Lichtenberg and Coast Guard Captain Dan Burbank each gave
two talks. Wristbands were handed out at registration for
each of the four talks with the understanding that the 1pm and 3pm and 2pm and
4pm would be duplicate talks. The room was cleared between talks during which
the astronauts signed autographs and interacted with the attendees.
4. Participating
Organizations and ACS member engagement
a. Boy
Scout Council of Cape Cod gave out merit Badges in Chemistry Paul Reibach, a
NESACS member, ran the chemistry badge program) and Space Exploration badges. More
than 125 scouts participated. Astronaut
Byron congratulated the new Space Exploration badge holders.
Boy Scout Space Exploration Badges with
Astronauts
b. Cape
Cod Community College- There were four separate areas with interactive
activities plus the rocket launch area. These are shown in Fig. 1 below.
c. LEGO
Laboratory- The younger students loved the LEGO education lab and it was
difficult to get them to move to another exhibit.
d. Cambridge
Science Festival-(Under the banner Science on the Street,
we are beginning to deliver our hallmark product—inspiring researchers and
innovators engaging audiences with their love of science, technology,
engineering and math—to kids, families and adults attending cultural and
community events throughout Massachusetts. Stay curious and prepare to have fun
at a festival, after school program, or event near you!( http://www.cambridgesciencefestival.org/ScienceOnTheStreet/About.aspx )Under the banner Science
on the Street, the Cambridge Science Festival is beginning to
deliver their hallmark product—inspiring researchers and innovators engaging
audiences with their love of science, technology, engineering and math—to kids,
families and adults attending cultural and community events throughout
Massachusetts. Stay curious and prepare to have fun at a festival, after school
program, or event near you! hands on experiments, rockets
e. Indoor
Planetarium –EDU Tarium- a Blow up planetarium, climb-in, all encompassing
experience, that can handle 15-20 students at a time
f.
Cape Cod Science Café Exhibitors/NESACS- hands
on chemistry and other experiments conducted by Dennis-Yarmouth High School
Students-
ACS Table
|
PID
Table with Astronaut Lichtenberg
|
i.
Cape
Light Compact- energy conservation - reduction of energy bills- http://www.capelightcompact.org/
ii.
Suffolk University- Electrical Engineering
Dept.-Prof. Craig Christiansen
iii.
Demonstrated devices that can create electricity
such as: Mendicino generator, hand cranked spark generator …
Suffolk Univ. Table with
electricity generation devices
|
iv.
MA Maritime-
v.
One Giant Leap- development of off shore wind
projects
5. Comments
from Participants
A 3rd grade teacher from Barnstable, West Villages Elementary School, Ms. Cannistraro
said that “ this was the best science event
that I have ever been to”.
Nancy Gifford, a 7th
grade science teacher from Harwich, said “My students said they loved the event
and learned a lot. As a teacher, I am excited that we were able to host such a
high caliber event for our kids. Meeting an astronaut and other scientists from
their hometowns helps them see that the sky is the limit ( or maybe not! :) )
many Cape Cod kids don't know what jobs are available in STEM because they
don't see big companies or know people who work in those fields. Giving them a
chance to talk to scientists is huge because they can see them as real people,
not just men in lab coats.”
A Boy Scout parent
remarked that “this kind of event makes you wish you were in 7th
grade again, with a blank slate, where you feel like anything is possible and
you can BE anything that you want”.
Many parents said that they were happy to see
the extensive facilities at the College.
Several parents
asked if Cape Cod Community College was becoming the STEM Center for Cape Cod and the Islands.
Astronaut, Byron
Lichtenberg said that it was a very impressive STEM program for the students
and that he enjoyed himself.
6. Summary
We would like to make this an annual event for Cape Cod. The College has
sufficient room to house an event that is 2-3 times the size of the present
event and we have to do a better job publicizing this event. The College is a
Great Place for this size or even a much larger event. The resources were
superior. We need additional events/exhibits to attract people to the events in
the Gym. We should have a laptop(s) at registration to collect
names of all attendees. We need more exhibitors and sponsors for next year.
Special thanks to all exhibitors and
volunteers who participated
7. Next
STEM Journey- March 28, 2015 at Cape Cod Community College
NESACS Public Relations Committee
Dr. Jack Driscoll & Jennifer Maclachlan
Photos by Jennifer Maclachlan
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