Students display work at STEM event, meet Congresswoman Davis

Congresswoman Susan Davis, Sofia Coseip
and Jayda Warburton.

For anyone who still thinks that girls don’t like robotics and all things related to science, technology, engineering and math, a day at the “Engaging Girls in STEM” event may finally convince them otherwise.

More than 80 students, educators, and organization leaders joined Congresswoman Susan Davis to talk about careers in the STEM fields and how young women can get involved and develop their skills in these areas.

Among the attendees were Muirlands Middle School eighth-grader Sofia Coseip and Jayda Warburton, ninth-grader at Pt. Loma High School, who participated in the event as part of the Boys and Girls Club of Linda Vista robotics program. Their team, the Stuffed Dragons 6565, had the opportunity to showcase their robot to attendees, including Congresswoman Davis.

The Stuffed Dragons were joined by several other groups of young women engaging in STEM activities, including the Girl Scouts and the Society of Women Engineers, who also had the opportunity to display their work.

Local female business leaders led a panel discussion in which they reminded the young attendees to “surround themselves with mentors and advocates who recognize their talents” and to “find their passion and do what makes them happy.”

Congresswoman Susan Davis hosted the event in collaboration with STEAM Connect and YMCA Youth and Community Center in North Park.

For more details on the event and careers in the STEM fields, visit the event website.

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Foundation aims to improve science Patrick Henry cluster schools

IN THE NEWS: The Henry Cluster STEMM Foundation will raise funds and work with the parent-teacher organizations at Patrick Henry High School and the schools that feed into it to promote student interest and engagement in the STEMM subjects. Read more from SCOOP San Diego»

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JROTC students sharpen science, tech, engineering, math skills

For the third consecutive year, the JROTC Program in the San Diego Unified School District has partnered with the College of Engineering at San Diego State University to offer 55 cadets the opportunity to attend the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Camp this summer. The concept of the program was a fully-funded, five-day residential experience on the SDSU campus from July 30-Aug 3.

The STEM camp was a great success as students were introduced to the rigor of engineering, bio-medical, robotics and bio-tech curricula. Hands-on experiments included building of programmable robotic devices, studying the functions and dissection of a heart and bridge design and testing. The cadets also had to opportunity to brief Cindy Marten, San Diego Unified Superintendent, on the STEM camp and the district JROTC program.

Throughout the week, cadets were housed in a university dorm with all meals provided and gain an excellent understanding of campus life. They were also given a campus tour and a personalized admissions briefing. This program was initiated through the support of Dr. Bruce Westermo, Associate Dean in the College of Engineering at San Diego State University and LTC David Guzman, the district JROTC Program Manager.

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Jones PrimeTime Performs Musical to Teach Student Body About Science

Utilizing the performing arts to teach children about outer space and science, while having fun, was the objective as the  PrimeTime program at Jones Elementary School put on a production of the “Space School Musical” for the entire student body.

Approximately 75 PrimeTime students participated in the event on July 11 after practicing for several months. Megan Babcock is the site supervisor; her activity leader, Janelle Fejeran, was the director of the musical.

The Space School Musical is a program developed by NASA’s Discovery Program as part of the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) curriculum movement in education across the United States. EDP Site Supervisors participated in this STEM training prior to the 2012-2013 school year and left the training with resources and activities that could be implemented in the Extended Day programs. .

 

This was the first time a SAY EDP site brought NASA’s Space School Musical to their school.

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Kids get hands-on, high-tech summer camp

IN THE NEWS: There is no evidence of the nation’s STEM deficit at Lincoln High School this summer.  Science, technology, engineering and mathematics are occupying the minds of more than 700 students from throughout San Diego County at a three-week program sponsored by the National Society of Black Engineers. Read more from UT San Diego»

More coverage

• 10 News»
• KPBS»

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Cubberley Elementary students in Lego competition

Cubberley’s newly formed robotics team, The Metal Bots, were the highest scoring team to complete the “On the Spot Challenge” at Legoland’s LEGO Yard Wars Spring Showdown 2013.

Competing against 26 other middle and elementary schools in the FIRST LEGO League Southern California Region, no coaches or adults were allowed in the pits. Teams were given a new mission to complete with only 30 minutes to rebuild and reprogram their robot to complete the tasks.

The Metal Bots formed early in the school year and have been coached by Kearny High School Robotics Team alumni, team parents and an engineer mentor with the Women in Defense. Team members are also learning how robotics relates in the world. Guest speaker, Dr. Richard Coutts, orthopedic surgeon with Sharp Health Care introduced robotic knee surgery, and engineer Alex Dowell with Sea Botix shared about underwater robots. The Metal Bots are our future doctors, engineers, and scientists!

Spring Showdown 2013 was based on the Junkyard Wars TV series in which two teams were given 24 hours to brainstorm and build a functioning item such as a hover craft, sail plane, torpedo, or dragster, collecting parts inside of the junkyard and later competing head to head in a challenge. The missions for the robotics tournament were based off of the machines that teams built throughout the television series.

For more information, please contact principal, Rosemary Cruz rcruz1@sandi.net and visit the FLL website.

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Mira Mesa High "cubing club" featured in video

The Rubik's Cube has been mastered by many students at Mira Mesa High School. Watch a student-produced video about their exploits»

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Mira Mesa High biotech students' "bright ideas" recognized

Jessie Garcia and Frank Pham helping
students to learn how to separate proteins.

Science kits designed and built by Mira Mesa High biotechnology students received the Bright Ideas Society award at the recent San Diego Festival of Science and Engineering.

After receiving the award from the San Diego City Council on March 19, students were on hand at the Festival on March 23 to show the 55,000 in attendance what they learned. The Bright Idea Society is sponsored by the Kimmich Educational Foundation at the San Diego Foundation. It recognizes three programs in San Diego county schools each year.

The students in the Mira Mesa High School biotechnology class were the recipients of the award not only for their own learning, but their effectiveness in passing on their learning to other science classrooms. In their biotechnology class the students learn both laboratory techniques and biological principals necessary for success in the biotechnology industry.

 Effects of Carbon Dioxide on ocean
ecosystems presented by Kristine
Lee and Manuel Lamug.

The students then apply their knowledge to manufacture four different interactive STEM – science, technology, engineering and mathematics – science kits. The four kits are: ocean acidification, enzymes, bacterial transformation, and protein purification. Other high school students can benefit by using the hands-on STEM experiments. These STEM education kits are then distributed for free to more than 200 high school science classrooms throughout the year.

At the Petco Park event, Bright Ideas Society award winners from the Mira Mesa High biotechnology class presented their work to the approximately 55,000 children who attended the San Diego Festival of Science at Engineering at Petco Park. During the festival, the Biotechnology students had interactive STEM activities for children of all ages to learn about carbon dioxide effects on ocean mollusks, separation of specific proteins from a cell, changing DNA in bacteria to make them glow, and how enzymes work.

For more information about Biotechnology at Mira Mesa High School, contact Lisa Yoneda at 858-566-2262 or lyoneda@sandi.net.

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Whitman Elementary science night takes to the skies

Paper airplanes soared kites were flying, balls were bouncing and roller coasters were looping. In fact, everything and everyone were moving around the packed auditorium at Whitman Elementary School during a recent Science Night.

More than 150 people were part of this event, arranged by Whitman science teacher Cathy Watson. Visitors rolled up their sleeves for hands-on force and motion experiments.

“This momentum for science as the center for student learning will continue,” said Whitman Principal Pamela Thompson. In addition to specialized teacher training and science nights, Whitman also opens its doors to students on Saturdays; the classes are consistently filled, an often have to turn away student scientists.

In addition to committing to 300 minutes of weekly science instruction, Whitman teachers are partnered with Ruben H. Fleet Science Center. They receive monthly professional developments in innovative ways in integrating science to other areas of the curriculum. They are also part of the district’s “Science Centered Schools” initiative that provides educators with training and collaboration time led by experts in the field.

Check out Whitman’s upcoming STEM activities on their website: http://www.sandi.net/whitman. Keep on moving Whitman Cougars!

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No such thing as hot air in Fulton K-8 balloon-car race

 And they're off... balloon-powered cars during race.

Sir Issac Newton might not have recognized the setting, but his Third Law of Motion was put to the test and proven again in Suzanne Smith's eighth grade science class.

For her lesson plan in the Physical Science Forces and Motion Unit, Smith challenged her students to design and build a balloon-powered car that could travel at least five meters.

"The students based their design strategies on their knowledge of drag, friction, momentum, thrust and Newton's Third Law of motion," she said. The activity not only solidified the information presented in the unit, but stimulated the students' interest in STEM -- science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The cars generally had four wheels and a body where a full balloon was attached. The escaping air from the balloon provide the propulsion for the car. The challenge was having enough air in the balloon to push the mass of the car the required five meters.

“It is great to see the students participating in engaging, fun, and interesting educational projects that increase knowledge and interest in science, while preparing our scholars for college and the 21st century global economy”, said Dr. Stanley Munro, Fulton K-8 Principal.

Fulton’s comprehensive curriculum centers on critical literacy, math, science, social studies, physical education, and English language development. All students at Fulton have the opportunity to understand computer/digital technology through an experiential, sequential, and cross-curricular program in our state-of-the-art computer lab.

For more information on the programs at Fulton, contact Principal Munro at (619) 262-0777.

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Barnard Elementary’s Science Night Gets SPAWAR Visit

Building a robot, making ice cream and how rockets fly, along with other science topics were on the table as scientists from SPAWAR, the Navy's Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, visited a recent science night at Barnard Mandarin Chinese Magnet School, which is located less than a mile from the research facility in Pt. Loma.

Dr. Randy Shimabukuro and Ana Borja, who are SPAWAR staff members and Barnard parents, were joined by Dr. Jim Rohr in the family science night event to stimulate the students' interest in STEM -- science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The scientists set up several experiment stations so kids could circulate and explore.

"This is the kind of great support that we get from not only our parents and our fine PTA, but our entire community," said Eddie Park, Barnard Principal. "We're hoping our students can use the Mandarin Chinese they learn here to be the leaders of tomorrow. STEM education helps them get that much closer to the kind of skills they need to compete in the world."

For more information, contact Bonny Sobiek at (619) 224-3306.

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