A big opportunity in a small world
A big opportunity in a small world
By: Eliza Huie
Description: Students have four tournaments in the next two months.
Topics:
Posted by editor Mon Nov 6, 2006 13:05:23 PST
Viewed 1206 times
1 response 0 comments Thanks to a grant from the National Science Foundation, 19 Tehachapi students from Valley Oaks Charter School, who have been studying nanotechnology as part of the preparation for a Lego Robotics competition, had the opportunity to go on a one-day NanoQuest. “Nano” comes from the Greek word “Nanos,” meaning "dwarf." This prefix is used in the metric system to mean one billionth.
Under the organization of Angela Berenstein these local students spent a Saturday in the science department on the campus of the University of California at Santa Barbara. This campus is home to one of the 13 clean rooms in the United States.
Their day at UCSB consisted of informative lectures on the relevance of nanotechnology in the world around us as well as the instruments and machines used in nanotechnology. Students learned about “Buckyballs,” named for visionary engineer R. Buckminster Fuller, inventor of the geodesic sphere. Buckyballs are strong, rigid natural molecules arranged in a series of interlocking hexagonal shapes, forming structures that resemble soccer balls. One individual Buckyball comprises exactly 60 carbon atoms.
In 1996, Richard Smalley received the Nobel Prize in chemistry for his discovery of Buckyballs. The use of Buckyballs is currently being employed in research to treat cancer so that medication can be delivered by the Buckyballs into a cancer patient. The medication would only treat the effected area making cancer treatments less radical. After learning about Buckyballs, students were able to create a model of a Buckyball to take home.
Other students were invited into the schools “teaching clean room”. This clean room is designed for university students to work and conduct experiments at the nano level. The students were taken through the process of preparing to enter a clean room as well as what it takes to maintain a clean room’s sterile environment. Once inside the students learned how to create microchips.
The children also participated in a one hour “Ask a Scientist” session. Students proved their accelerated interest in science as they fired off one question after another to the obliging scientist. Toward the end of the day the students were taught about products we use today that engage nanotechnology.
The kids were then divided into small groups and given a product that uses nanotechnology. They had to create a sales pitch demonstration that would promote their product. The students delivered their presentation to the “judges” made up of their peers and participation adults. The students with the best presentation of how nanotechnology was used in their product won fun prizes.
The two robotics teams and their “coach,” Kathy McFarland, are currently preparing for four tournaments scheduled over the next two months, including two local “practice tournaments” to be held in Santa Clarita on Nov. 11 and Lancaster on Nov. 18.
One of the teams has been selected to participate in the First Lego League’s official State Tournament in Carlsbad on Dec. 2, and the other team will participate in a state competition to be held on Dec. 2 in Clovis.
| Send to a Friend | Report a Violation |
