Fuel for Thought

Fuel for Thought Prepares High School Students for Our Global Energy Economy

ARLINGTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The concept of energy is central to all the science disciplines, seamlessly connecting science, technology, and mathematics. For high school and upper middle school teachers, NSTA’s Fuel for Thought comprises inquiry-based activities, lesson plans, and case studies designed to help teach increased awareness of energy, environmental concepts, and the related issues.

Drawn from NSTA’s award-winning, peer-reviewed journals, Fuel for Thought is divided into three overarching segments for learning and teaching: Student Activities and Investigations includes several activities that tackle such topics as “Energy, Heat, and Temperature,” “Vehicles and Fuels,” and “Living Connections.” Student Projects and Case Studies includes examples of extensive, question-driven student projects, and the last section, Issues in Depth, provides background content knowledge for deeper understanding of the critical energy issues facing the world today.

These interesting and meaningful investigations demonstrate the interdisciplinary nature of energy, preparing students for the complex reality of our global energy economy.

You can browse sample pages of Fuel for Thought free at http://goo.gl/lZszT or at the NSTA Science Store website.

For additional information or to purchase Fuel for Thought and other books from NSTA Press, visit the NSTA Science Store at www.nsta.org/store. To order by phone, call 800-277-5300 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET weekdays. The 408-page book is priced at $25.95 and discount-priced for NSTA members at $20.76

FPL Generator Challenge research & resources

http://www.treehugger.com/clean-technology/build-micro-hydropower-generator-repurposed-printer-parts.html

http://www.greenoptimistic.com/2010/03/09/build-small-scale-hydroelectric-generator/#.UNNKguQ1nTo

How to Teach the Metric System

Symphony of Science - Our Biggest Challenge (Climate Change Music Video)

The Symphony of Science is a musical project by John Boswell designed to deliver scientific knowledge and philosophy in musical form.



A musical investigation into the causes and effects of global climate change and our opportunities to use science to offset it. Featuring Bill Nye, David Attenborough, Richard Alley and Isaac Asimov. "Our Biggest Challenge" is the 16th episode of the Symphony of Science series by melodysheep.

Visit http://symphonyofscience.com for more science remixes!

Danny Forster – Discovery Education Channel Host – Kicks Off 2012 Palm Beach County Science Symposium

Danny Forster, chief architecture and engineering expert for Discovery Education and host of the SCIENCE series Build It Bigger, will address more than 1,000 science teachers to kick off the 2012 Palm Beach County Science Symposium that will take place on Thursday, August 16, 2012 from 8 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Park Vista High School - 7900 Jog Road, Lake Worth, FL. 

Forster will share his experience traveling the world in search of incredible feats of architecture and engineering and his work on Discovery Channel’s documentary, Rising: Rebuilding Ground Zero. He also will discuss what inspired him to pursue a career in science.

Pass Judgement!

A reminder that tomorrow's SECME meeting is at Pierce Hammock Elementary School (14255 Hamlin Blvd. Loxahatchee, FL 33470) to help judge their science fair. Students are responsible for their own transportation.

Symphony of Science - Dinosaurs!!

The Symphony of Science is a musical project by John Boswell designed to deliver scientific knowledge and philosophy in musical form.



A musical celebration of dinosaurs! "The World of the Dinosaurs" is the 14th installment in the Symphony of Science series; it investigates their habits, extinction, and how we learn about them. Featuring Alice Roberts, Bill Nye, Nigel Marvin, Dallas Campbell and more. Materials used in the creation of this video are from:

Dinosaurs Alive

BBC "How to Build a Dinosaur"

BBC "Extinct: A Horizon Guide to Dinosaurs"

Bill Nye - Dinosaurs

Prehistoric Park

Discovery Channel "Last Day of the Dinosaurs"

Jurassic Park

Jack Horner's 2011 TED Talk

Symphony of Science - The Greatest Show

The Symphony of Science is a musical project by John Boswell designed to deliver scientific knowledge and philosophy in musical form.



A musical celebration of the wonders of biology, including evolution, natural selection, DNA, and more. Featuring David Attenborough, Richard Dawkins and Bill Nye. "The Greatest Show on Earth" is the 13th video in the Symphony of Science music videos series. Materials used in this video are from:

Richard Dawkins' "There is grandeur in this view of life" speech

BBC Life

BBC Planet Earth

David Attenborough's First Life

Charles Darwin and the Tree of Life

Bill Nye Evolution episode

Marshmallow Launch at the White House Science Fair

The President meets an 8th grader named Joey from Phoenix, AZ at the White House Science Fair and the two launch a marshmallow across the state dining room with Joey's science project - an air cannon.

President honors hard work & top talent at the White House Science Fair.

Remarks by the President at the White House Science Fair

For Immediate Release February 07, 2012 11:53 A.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. (Applause.) Thank you so much. Thank you, everybody. Everybody have a seat.

Well, welcome to the White House Science Fair. (Applause.) It is -- just spent some time checking outI some of the projects that were brought here today, and I’ve got to say, this is fun. It’s not every day that you have robots running all over your house. (Laughter.) I am trying to figure out how you got through the metal detectors. I also shot a marshmallow through a air gun, which was very exciting. (Laughter.)

Now, it is fitting that this year’s fair is happening just two days after the Super Bowl. I want to congratulate the New York Giants and all their fans. (Applause.) I just talked to Coach Coughlin; I’m looking forward to having the Giants here at the White House so we can celebrate their achievements. But what I’ve also said -- I’ve said this many times -- is if we are recognizing athletic achievement, then we should also be recognizing academic achievement and science achievement. If we invite the team that wins the Super Bowl to the White House, then we need to invite some science fair winners to the White House as well. (Applause.)

Blue Man Group: Making Waves at the Explorium

Blue Man Group—Making Waves. The 1,500 square foot exhibit features a playful and accessible approach to the science of sound. Colors, shadows and luminescent objects create an exciting visual setting where we see, feel, hear and create in the fun-filled signature Blue Man style that encourages exploration and discovery of the wonder and joy of sound!

Dates: January 27—April 29, 2012
Cost: Suggestion donation $5.00
For information (561) 347-3912,
or http://www.scienceexplorium.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=news.details&ArticleId=20&returnTo=upcoming-exhibits-1

Seeing Sound
What does sound look like? Here visitors can play a Theremin organ—an eerie sounding instrument played by moving closer or farther away. An oscilloscope shows the sound waves created and kids can watch the distinctive patterns of harmonies and dissonance while they play.

Slide/Build-u-lum
In this area visitors put together PVC tubes – a signature Blue Man experience – to create instruments. At the Build-u-lum bins of color coded pipe provide the raw materials and different tube lengths result in different pitch. Song books with color-coded “notes” are attached making it possible to build and play a song. At the Slide-u-lum, percussion meets the slide trombone. Visitors slide PVC tubes into long or short configurations then strike their new instrument to produce the note they’re looking for.

Sand Drum
We all know that sound is a physical vibration in the air. But we rarely think about the physicality of sound. Here we’ll see, and feel that sound is a physical force with the ability to move things. Speakers mounted under drum heads will produce aural vibrations that form resonance patterns in sand. As we control the pitch and volume, the patterns respond giving a physical form to the aural experience.

PVC’s
Play PVC instruments just like Blue Man Group. Three sets of pipes let kids experiment separately – or join together in their own Blue Man performance. A pulsing black-light produces brilliant colors and the PVCs are positioned in front of a dramatic stage photograph from the show. A great place for collaboration between visitors, kids can follow a flashing light to play pre-set tunes or compose their own creations.

Belly Drum
No more pots and pans after visitors experience the Belly Drum wall. Learn from the Blue Men how to use the human body as a percussion instrument. Once the art of belly drumming is perfected visitors can play along as the Blue Men perform the Belly Drum Song.

Surround Sound Theater
The whole experience comes together in the intimate surround sound theatre. The Blue Men perform a song created specifically for this exhibit maximizing the use of surround sound technology while putting together the elements of sound showcased throughout the interactive exhibit .The musical crescendo like the Blue Man show itself, will leave visitors asking for more.

Scripps Florida to Bring New Interactive Exhibits and Activities to 3rd Annual Public Science “CELLebration” Day at The Gardens Mall

Scripps Florida invites Palm Beach County students and their families to celebrate the 3rd Anniversary of the opening of their state-of-the-art biomedical research institute. The “CELLebrate” Science community science festival will take place at The Gardens Mall on Saturday, February 04, 2012 from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. The festival is exclusively for Palm Beach county students and families. It will include interactive science exhibits, exciting new demonstrations, opportunities to interact with scientists, and lots of family fun!

Careers in Nuclear Science Open House on Jan. 23

FIND OUT ABOUT CAREERS IN NUCLEAR SCIENCE

The field of nuclear science encompasses a variety of career options, including power plant technology, nuclear medicine and radiation detection conducted by public safety and homeland security professionals. Information on these careers, how to get the training you need to get started in this growing field and exciting new developments in nuclear energy will be presented in a Nuclear Science Career Awareness Open House on Monday, January 23 from 5 to 7 p.m. The event is sponsored by Indian River State College (IRSC) with Florida Power & Light (FPL) and the FPL Energy Encounter and will be held in the Kight Center for Emerging Technologies at the IRSC Main Campus, off 35th Street in Fort Pierce. The Open House is held in conjunction with National Nuclear Science Week.

The event will feature nationally recognized experts and employers in nuclear science, including representatives from the US Department of Energy; United States Navy; AREVA, a multi-national industrial and nuclear power company; Westinghouse, The Shaw Group, provider of piping systems and construction services for the power industry; the Center for Energy Workforce Development, Florida Banner Center for Energy, North American Young Generation Nuclear, the Regional Center for Nuclear Education and Training based at IRSC, and others.

FPL and IRSC representatives will provide information on the highly-successful Power Plant Technology Institute, providing a comprehensive education in power plant operations and technologies. Students completing the program earn an Associate Degree in Applied Science in Electrical Engineering Technology and specialize in one of four areas: instrumentation and controls, electrical maintenance, mechanical maintenance and radiological protection. In August, 20 graduates of the program were hired by FPL for full-time positions at the St. Lucie Nuclear Power Plant. The apprentice-level wage scale averages $55,000 - $57,000 per year, in addition to an attractive benefits package. Graduates of the IRSC Nuclear Medicine Technology program work with physicians to perform nuclear medicine procedures used to diagnose and treat diseases. In diagnosis, NMT’s prepare, measure and give radiopharmaceuticals, known as tracers, to patients. Then, by using a radiation-sensitive camera, images of the internal organs and the tracer routing through the body can be viewed on a monitor. Information on this career option will also be presented at the Open House, as well as discussion of the technology and applications related to radiation detection in law enforcement.

The Open House will feature panel discussions, information booths, and opportunities to speak one-on-one with representatives in the various nuclear science fields. For more information, call the IRSC Call Center toll-free at 1-866-792-4772.

The Feynman Series (part 1) - Beauty

The Feynman Series is a companion project of The Sagan Series working in the hopes of promoting scientific education and scientific literacy in the general population.

Symphony of Science - The Quantum World

A musical investigation into the nature of atoms and subatomic particles, the jiggly things that make up everything we see. Featuring Morgan Freeman, Frank Close, Michio Kaku, Brian Cox, Richard Feynman, and Stephen Hawking.

"The Quantum World" is the eleventh installment in the ongoing Symphony of Science music video series. Materials used in the creation of this video are from:

Richard Feynman - Fun to Imagine

BBC Visions of the Future - the Quantum Revolution

Through the Wormhole with Morgan Freeman

Into the Universe with Stephen Hawking

Brian Cox TED Talk

BBC What Time is it

BBC Wonders of the Universe

BBC Horizon - What Is Reality

Spirit Night To Support The Very Special Science Fair

A Spirit Night to support the Very Special Science Fair for students in grades K-12 with significant disabilities will be held Thursday, October 6th. Chick-fil-A is sponsoring the Spirit Night to raise funds to transport students, many of whom are in wheelchairs, to the Very Special Science Fair at the Palm Beach Zoo in April.

Over 500 students with Intellectual Disabilities and Autism Spectrum Disorder participate in the Fair and the cost to transport these students is over $10,000.

On October 6th go to the Chick-fil-A restaurants below and order anything on the menu. Mention the Very Special Science Fair and a portion of the sale will be donated to the Fair.

Locations and Times:
Wellington Mall 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Okeechobee & Turnpike 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Palm Beach Lakes 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Northlake 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Boynton Beach Blvd. 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Boca Towne Center 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

The purpose of the Very Special Science Fair is to enable students with significant disabilities the opportunity to participate in scientific inquiry and discovery. Each classroom develops a science project which is displayed at the Palm Beach Zoo’s facility.

Since its inception four years ago, the Very Special Science Fair has tripled in the number of classrooms participating in this event. Students are proud of the hard work they’ve generated in developing their science projects and thrilled at seeing them displayed at the Zoo’s Pavilion.

Linda Laverty with the Department of Exceptional Student Education says, “Bring your family and friends and join us in a random act of kindness by going to Chick-fil-A on October 6th and support the Very Special Science Fair.”

For more information contact Linda Laverty at (561) 434-8181 or via e-mail at linda.laverty@palmbeachschools.org .

Explorium Edventure Day

EXPLORIUM EDVENTURE DAY
Saturday, March 19th, 12 noon - 4 PM
Are you curious about how and why things work the way they do? The Children’s Science Explorium invites you to investigate, dares you to dig, and promises to peer into the excitement of science as we celebrate the wonders of our world! Join us as we celebrate a day of hands-on exhibits, demonstrations, and activities meant to stir our natural curiosities.

Saturday's Super Full Moon

On March 19th, a full Moon of rare size and beauty will rise in the east at sunset. It's a super "perigee moon"--the biggest in almost 20 years!

Historic First: A Spacecraft Orbits Mercury

NASA’s MESSENGER spacecraft successfully achieved orbit around Mercury at approximately 9 p.m. EDT on March 17th. This marks the first time a spacecraft has orbited the solar system's innermost planet.

FULL STORY at
http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2011/18mar_orbitmercury/

2011 SRCHS SNHS Indiction

2011 SNHS ceremony

The second Science National Honor Society induction at Seminole Ridge was held on March 1st. Congratulations to the Seminole SECME students have taken the oath: "I promise to do my best to represent the academic goals of the Science National Honor Society, participate in community service, and encourage the pursuit of scientific knowledge that benefits all mankind."

Edwin Keo
Arnold Banner
Cindy Dosch

Membership for a student in the SNHS is conferred during the last two years of secondary school education. A student must have and maintain a 3.0 grade point average (4.0 scale) to be a member. In addition, the following qualifications must be met and maintained:

• A member must be enrolled in at least one honors or upper level science class during or prior to the eleventh grade year.
  
• A member must be enrolled in at least one second year honors or upper level science class during or prior to the twelfth grade year.
  
• If second year honors or upper level science courses are not offered by the school, then the student must be enrolled in a second first year honors or upper level science class during or prior to the twelfth grade year.
  
• A member must maintain a B+ average (3.5 on a 4.0 scale) across all science courses.
  

Our Honorary Inductees for this year, voted on by the membership are:
- Erich Landstrom
- Caroyln Slygh
- Jaime Young
- Steve Alten

Last year's Honorary members:
- Dr. McGee
- Margarette Marturano
- Shawna Ahmad

We would like to thank the entire science deparment for their support and dedication to our students.