Science extravaganza excites elementary students
Issue date: 4/17/09 Section: News
By Peyton Roye
Page Editor
The sky was partly cloudy, the temperature was comfortable and the laughs were plentiful at the 14th Annual Science Extravaganza on the Midland College campus April 3.
The extravaganza is an event held each spring, that "shows students science is not just in a text book, science is everywhere," said Claudia Hinds assistant professor of biology.
MC welcomed approximately 2,000 students from the Midland Independent School District, the surrounding areas as well as students being home schooled.
"We host mainly sixth graders, but of course with home schooling, ages can vary," Hinds said.
Science exhibits were set up from the Dorothy and Todd Aaron Medical Science building all the way to the Abell-Hanger Science Faculty building.
At each station students observed science as it happens in everyday situations.
The various stations featured subjects such as biology, microbiology, genetics; math and physics just to name a few.
Volunteers were present at each exhibit, explaining their respective post to each group of students.
Texas Tech's Hydrogen Fuel Cell car made its way to the MC campus running on ethanol and hydrogen.
The vehicle was a $250,000 project, built as an entry in "Challenge X", a competition involving four year institutions.
Still part of an evolving technology, the hydrogen battery powers all electric elements of the car. The Tech students also developed a fuel for the engine which was only 15 percent gasoline. The other 85 percent is ethanol.
Officer Woodruff, of the Midland Police Department, offered his services by hosting the "Fatal Vision" demonstration. The demonstration allowed students to observe the different levels of intoxication via the use of goggles that have been modified to portray a likeness of being under the influence. Students essentially participated in a field sobriety test.
"It helps get the message across that it is not okay to get behind a motor vehicle after drinking," Woodruff said.
Representatives from Citibank also attended with a shopping experiment to teach students the value of budgeting and saving. Other community exhibitors, such as the National Weather Service and the Permian Basin Petroleum Museum were present with hands-on demonstrations.
In making the event run as smoothly as possible, MC received help from members of the community, volunteer students and faculty.
Students who volunteered were generally given the task of herding. "herders" as they were referred to, escorted the groups of students to the various posts within the extravaganza. Students who volunteered also received extra credit in science and math.
Page Editor
The sky was partly cloudy, the temperature was comfortable and the laughs were plentiful at the 14th Annual Science Extravaganza on the Midland College campus April 3.
The extravaganza is an event held each spring, that "shows students science is not just in a text book, science is everywhere," said Claudia Hinds assistant professor of biology.
MC welcomed approximately 2,000 students from the Midland Independent School District, the surrounding areas as well as students being home schooled.
"We host mainly sixth graders, but of course with home schooling, ages can vary," Hinds said.
Science exhibits were set up from the Dorothy and Todd Aaron Medical Science building all the way to the Abell-Hanger Science Faculty building.
At each station students observed science as it happens in everyday situations.
The various stations featured subjects such as biology, microbiology, genetics; math and physics just to name a few.
Volunteers were present at each exhibit, explaining their respective post to each group of students.
Texas Tech's Hydrogen Fuel Cell car made its way to the MC campus running on ethanol and hydrogen.
The vehicle was a $250,000 project, built as an entry in "Challenge X", a competition involving four year institutions.
Still part of an evolving technology, the hydrogen battery powers all electric elements of the car. The Tech students also developed a fuel for the engine which was only 15 percent gasoline. The other 85 percent is ethanol.
Officer Woodruff, of the Midland Police Department, offered his services by hosting the "Fatal Vision" demonstration. The demonstration allowed students to observe the different levels of intoxication via the use of goggles that have been modified to portray a likeness of being under the influence. Students essentially participated in a field sobriety test.
"It helps get the message across that it is not okay to get behind a motor vehicle after drinking," Woodruff said.
Representatives from Citibank also attended with a shopping experiment to teach students the value of budgeting and saving. Other community exhibitors, such as the National Weather Service and the Permian Basin Petroleum Museum were present with hands-on demonstrations.
In making the event run as smoothly as possible, MC received help from members of the community, volunteer students and faculty.
Students who volunteered were generally given the task of herding. "herders" as they were referred to, escorted the groups of students to the various posts within the extravaganza. Students who volunteered also received extra credit in science and math.
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