Math and science brings rural students to campus

Submitted by Amy Hartley
Phone: (907) 474-5823
11/04/04

Rural students from Circle, Savoonga, and Stevens Village will visit the University of Alaska Fairbanks to learn about rocket science and weather instrumentation during an intensive Science and Math Enrichment Program. Students arrived yesterday and will begin their studies and experiments on campus today, Nov. 4.

The International Arctic Research Center has partnered with the Geophysical Institute (GI) to help middle-schoolers understand how science and math problem solving aid the research of aurora, the weather, and climate change.

The Circle, Savoonga, and Stevens Village students are working with the Aurora Alive curriculum, developed by the GI Information and Education Outreach Office. Rocket building and launching, the construction of weather instruments, and a tour of Poker Flat Research Range are all part of the Science and Math Enrichment Program this year.

Organizers hope this experience will spur rural students to pursue careers in math and science.

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CONTACT:
Amy Hartley, IARC/GI Information Officer: (907) 474-5823

The media are invited to visit with students, teachers, scientists and staff throughout the next two days. A schedule of the Science and Math Enrichment Program follows.

Science and Math Enrichment Program Schedule

Nov. 4, 2004

8-8:30 a.m.: Welcome and pretest in GI Auditorium

8:45-10 a.m.: Group #1 builds rockets in IARC Observatory
Group #2 builds weather instruments in IARC Lobby

10:15-11:30 a.m.: Group #1 builds weather instruments in IARC Lobby
Group #2 builds rockets in IARC Observatory

11:40 a.m.-12:10 p.m.: Group #1 conducts wind-weighting activity in the IARC Lobby
Group #2 conducts wind-weighting activity in the GI Globe Room.

1:30 p.m.-3 p.m.: Launch student-built rockets in fields across from the Georgeson Botanical Garden on West Tanana Drive.

4:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m.: Rocket math activities in IARC Observatory and IARC Lobby

6:00 p.m.-6:30 p.m.: Cultural presentations by students from Circle, Savoonga, and Stevens Village at the Wedgewood Resort.

6:30 p.m.-7:15 p.m.: Students sign Science and Math Enrichment Program T-shirts.

Nov. 5, 2004

9:45 a.m.-11:15 a.m.: Students tour Poker Flat Research Range