STEM Ed Announcement: Science/Engineering Saturday Seminars

[Morton Sternheim <mort@k12s.phast.umass.edu>]

This is a UMass Amherst program.
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SPACE IS STILL AVAILABLE. 

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Science & Engineering Saturday Seminars         Spring, 2009 

-  Designed for science teachers; both new and experienced teachers are welcome         

-  Five Saturdays each term; 8:30-1 at UMass Amherst

-  Educational materials, refreshments, parking, PDPs included

-  Advance registration is required; capacity is limited

-  Cost $30 per session

-  4 PDPs per half day session

Register: https://www.umassk12.net/sess/register.html

Feb. 28.  Nanotechnology. Mark Tuominen, Physics Department and Center for
Hierarchical Manufacturing. Another in a series on nanotechnology; previous
attendance is not required. The atomic force microscope (AFM) allows
researchers to map surfaces at the atomic level; a multimedia module shows
how this is done, and a hands-on activity models the AFM. Nanomedicine is
explored via a diffusion experiment and a presentation. 

IF YOUY CAN, BRING ALONG A DIGITAL CAMERA,A LAPTOP, AND WHATEVER 
YOU NEED TO TRANSFER THE PHOTOS.


March 7. Using Birds to Teach Biology. Bruce Byers, Biology. Observations of
organisms in their natural environments can spark a life-long interest in
biology. Charismatic organisms are especially well suited to this role. For
example, birds are conspicuous inhabitants of urban, suburban, and rural
environments, and are intrinsically appealing to almost everyone. They are
easily observed at feeders and elsewhere, and engage in a variety of
fascinating behaviors. In this workshop, we will share ideas for
inquiry-based activities and exercises, centered around observations of
birds, that address key elements of the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks
for science, especially those Frameworks related to ecology and evolutionary
biology. 


March 14 *** NEW DATE ***.  Traffic Engineering and the Everyday World. 
Mike Knodler, Civil and Environmental Engineering. 
This workshop introduces students to basic
traffic engineering principles with emphasis on the safe and efficient
operation of intersections.  More importantly, the sociological impacts of
transportation on everyday life will be explored in detail. Over 40,000
people are killed each year on United States roadways, many at
intersections.  In addition, increasing traffic volumes has led to
congestion requiring improved vehicle movement efficiency at intersections. 
Topics to be covered include: vehicle, operator, and roadway
characteristics; traffic control; roadway capacity; geometric design
objectives and plan formulation; demand forecasting; and economic, social,
and environmental evaluation.  The workshop features several hands-on
activities that can be adapted for all grade levels.

April 4 *** NEW DATE *** Where On Earth Are You? Rob Snyder, STEM Education Institute.
Much of what we know about the structure of matter ranging from the
distribution of electrons in an atom to the chemical composition of a
star we know because we understand relationships among the wavelengths,
frequencies, and energies of electromagnetic radiation.  Specific
wavelengths and frequencies of electromagnetic radiation are also used
in many ways to map features on Earths surface.
   This seminar provides an opportunity to build a model of a remote
sensing satellite that detects visible light reflected or emitted from
a model of a landscape on Earths surface.  In another activity, GPS
devices that receive specific frequencies of electromagnetic waves from
a network of orbiting satellites will be used (weather permitting) to
map a landscape.


May 2. Weather cancellation makeup date.

May 9. Recall for those registered for graduate credit. 

Questions: Mort Sternheim, mort@umassk12.net, 413-545-1908,
www.umassk12.net/sess 

Online seminar registration and payment:
www.umassk12.net/sess/register.html. Required for everyone whether or not
they are registering for graduate credit.