Boys and Girls Club of Suffolk Annual Science Fair - July 15, 2015

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Contributors: Amy Wilkerson, Olga Trofimova, Brandt Robertson, Song Vick, Samson Worrell, Reed Beverstock and Ben Kincaid Boys and Girls Club of Suffolk Annual Science Fair - July 15, 2015 On July

The science fair was developed and organized by Amy Wilkerson, Laboratory and Research Manager at W&M s ARC.

1 Contributors: Amy Wilkerson, Olga Trofimova, Brandt Robertson, Song Vick, Samson Worrell, Reed Beverstock and Ben Kincaid Boys and Girls Club of Suffolk Annual Science Fair - July 15, 2015 On July 15, 2015, the second annual William & Mary (W&M) Applied Research Center (ARC) Science Fair was held at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Suffolk located at John F. Kennedy Middle School. The science fair was developed and organized by Amy Wilkerson, Laboratory and Research Manager at W&M s ARC. Over 100 elementary and middle school age girls and boys were able to participate in the event, including several high school volunteers. Elementary school participants. Middle school participants. Instead of a traditional science fair where the students design the projects, Amy was able to coordinate with W&M, Christopher Newport University (CNU), Old Dominion University (ODU), Norfolk State University (NSU), Jefferson Lab (JLab) and the Nansemond River Preservation Alliance Wisdom (NRPA) is not to the provide product of schooling but of the lifelong attempt to acquire it. science, technology, engineering, Albert Einstein and mathematics (STEM) outreach displays, demonstrations, and hands-on activities. Page 1 of 8 July 2015

Amy has been working with the Suffolk Boys and Girls Clubs (BGCS) as part of her Fill the Gap project that has been partially funded by an IDEA grant from the

In the past couple of years, Amy has been able to provide numerous Mini- Spectrometer Workshops for BGCS participants at John F. Kennedy Middle School.

One of Amy s goals this year was to provide backpacks to all the BGCS participants. Vertical Carbon Technologies, Inc.

Amy was even able to fill the bags from Vertical Carbon Technologies with items donated by W&M, NSU, ODU and JLab.

2 Amy has been working with the Suffolk Boys and Girls Clubs (BGCS) as part of her Fill the Gap project that has been partially funded by an IDEA grant from the W&M Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity. In the past couple of years, Amy has been able to provide numerous Mini- Spectrometer Workshops for BGCS participants at John F. Kennedy Middle School. Funding has also been provided to purchase a MakerBot 3-D printer and workshops for BGCS participants have been conducted this year. One of Amy s goals this year was to provide backpacks to all the BGCS participants. Vertical Carbon Technologies, Inc. (Xin Zhao, Founder/CEO) was able to make this happen with a generous donation. Amy was even able to fill the bags from Vertical Carbon Technologies with items donated by W&M, NSU, ODU and JLab. Highlights from the science fair are provided below: W&M Mini-Spectroscopy Demonstration: W&M ARC staff member Brandt Robertson facilitated the mini-spectroscopy demonstration. He provided a brief explanation about spectroscopy as the participants were given an opportunity to view the unique spectra of different light sources using a hand held mini-spectrometer and 3-D glasses. This allowed participants to utilize, the free software provided by PublicLab.org to analyze each light source. W&M 3-D Printer Demonstration: W&M ARC staff members Reed Beverstock and Ben Kincaid provided a demonstration with our MakerBot 3-D printer. An explanation of the 3D printer process was provided as participants watched a sample being printed. Previously printed examples were also on display. Page 2 of 8 July 2015

W&M Fire Safety Demonstration: Bradley Meirs, W&M Fire

popular display that included a new hands-on fire

Participants learned valuable information about how to

NSU Demonstration: Kevin Tanyi, a graduate student in

3 W&M Fire Safety Demonstration: Bradley Meirs, W&M Fire Safety Officer, and W&M student Hannah Freeman provided a popular display that included a new hands-on fire extinguisher simulator and smoke detectors. Participants learned valuable information about how to prevent and stop fires in the home. NSU Demonstration: Kevin Tanyi, a graduate student in Materials Science and Engineering at NSU, provided several experiments with smart materials. Participants were able to observe how the properties of these materials changed based on their exposure to temperature and UV light. Page 3 of 8 July 2015

NSU Vacuum Pump Demonstration: NSU research associate professor Dr.

changing the pressure inside the vacuum chamber causes objects like a marshmallow or

CNU Spectrophotometer Demonstration: Thomas Dushatinski, a CNU undergraduate majoring in

The spectroscopy technique is very important in the field of chemistry for differentiation

4 NSU Vacuum Pump Demonstration: NSU research associate professor Dr. Jonathan Skuza provided a vacuum pump demonstration for the participants who watched how changing the pressure inside the vacuum chamber causes objects like a marshmallow or balloon in the chamber to transform. CNU Spectrophotometer Demonstration: Thomas Dushatinski, a CNU undergraduate majoring in chemistry, demonstrated his ultra-violet and visible light spectrophotometer. The spectroscopy technique is very important in the field of chemistry for differentiation of materials. The demonstration allowed for students to observe the color of the ink from pens and predict their absorbance spectra that are typically inverse of what you see. Page 4 of 8 July 2015

ODU Solar Cell Demonstration: Derek Demuth, a recent graduate in

Virginia Union University who is working at the ARC for the summer,

5 ODU Solar Cell Demonstration: Derek Demuth, a recent graduate in Electrical and Computer Engineering at ODU, provided a demonstration using a solar cell. Participants were also able to view a section of a solar cell under a microscope. W&M Microscope Learning Station: Samson Worrell, a rising junior at Virginia Union University who is working at the ARC for the summer, demonstrated the proper use of a microscope and participants were also able to complete an instructional work sheet before viewing the samples provided. Page 5 of 8 July 2015

NRPA Waterway Demonstration: NRPA representatives Kate Bradbury,

River and learned about what is needed to protect this river and

A demonstration was provided showing how pollution and chemicals can

Director of Environmental, Health and Safety, and Andrew Schwieder, a

6 NRPA Waterway Demonstration: NRPA representatives Kate Bradbury, Cindy Pinell, and Alex Pinell provided a demonstration involving our local waterways. Participants received training and information about the Nansemond River and learned about what is needed to protect this river and other waterways in our community. A demonstration was provided showing how pollution and chemicals can enter our waterways and the techniques that are used to test water quality. W&M Environmental, Health & Safety Demonstration: Sandra Prior, W&M s Director of Environmental, Health and Safety, and Andrew Schwieder, a recent W&M graduate, demonstrated the Heimlich maneuver for participants along with lifesaving CPR techniques and general first aid treatments. The participants definitely enjoyed the life size training aids. Page 6 of 8 July 2015

7 Joint JLAB/W&M Activity Tables: More Pictures from the Event: Reggie Carter, Suffolk BGCS Unit Director, guided the students through the stations and even made time to stop and talk with Amy Wilkerson. Amy provided a brief overview of the event to John F. Kennedy Middle School Principal Vivian Covington and Assistant Principal Lori White. It was nice that they were able to visit the event this year. Over a hundred green backpacks from Vertical Carbon Technologies were filled before they were passed out to all the BGCS participants. Page 7 of 8 July 2015

It was nice meeting Kecia Taliaferro and Sheneque

11 th grade helper, and Tamia Almond, 6 th grade

Kelsie Lytle and Michela Brown were great helpers

They also helped with stuffing the backpacks.

backpacks from Vertical Carbon Technologies which

A special thank you goes out to our volunteers

8 It was nice meeting Kecia Taliaferro and Sheneque Hawkins, BGCS Program Leaders, and Kelvin Boone, 11 th grade helper, and Tamia Almond, 6 th grade helper. Kelsie Lytle and Michela Brown were great helpers with the elementary school students. They also helped with stuffing the backpacks. All the students were happy to receive their new backpacks from Vertical Carbon Technologies which were loaded with fun stuff to take home. A special thank you goes out to our volunteers from BGCS, W&M, CNU, ODU, NSU, NRPS, and JLAB that made this event possible. We also appreciate all the wonderful pictures that were taken by W&M ARC staff member Olga Trofimova during the event. Page 8 of 8 July 2015

Smart Lighting Activities

Smart Lighting Activities The following are hands-on activities to provide additional background for smart lighting. Using an LED as a Light Sensor The project Measuring Vegetation Health (http://mvh.sr.unh.edu/)