2009 Engineering Extravaganza at
Northwest Nazarene University

Monday, January 26, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Wednesday, January 29, 2009
Thursday, Janurary 30, 2009

Activity Descriptions

1) Osmosis: Getting Wet Inside and Out – Mon, Tues, Wed & Fri
Science Students, Northwest Nazarene University - http://people.nnu.edu/jocossel
Students will learn about kinetic energy and the states of matter, Brownian motion, and concentration gradients and semi permeable membranes of the diffusion of water. They will explore applications of osmotic potential to living systems and the human body.

2) Photosynthesis – Solar Powered Life – Mon, Tues, Wed & Fri
Science Students, Northwest Nazarene University - http://people.nnu.edu/jocossel
Students will explore the concept of converting electromagnetic radiation (in the form of light) into chemical energy in plants. Students will conduct experiments to examine photosynthetic pigments and make observations of scientific demonstrations to reinforce concepts.

3) Creepy-crawlies: Adventure with Amphibians and Reptiles – Mon, Tues, Wed & Fri
Science Students, Northwest Nazarene University - http://people.nnu.edu/jocossel
Students will be introduced to living and preserved representatives of the group of animals called “herpetofauna”. Students will explore the biology of these creatures otherwise known as amphibians and reptiles, with special focus on species that occur in Idaho. NNU students will present a brief overview of research conducted by Dr. Cossel’s lab. Activities will include live animal observations and interactions involved with feeding, locomotion and anatomy.

4) Brainiacs – Mon, Tues, Wed & Fri
Science Students, Northwest Nazarene University - http://people.nnu.edu/jocossel
Members of the NNU cadaver dissection team will give students an overview of human brain anatomy. They will use preserved and plastinated human brains to illustrate brain anatomy and will have students perform activities to reinforce concepts of brain function. Presentations will include discussion of brain health and disease (ex. Alzheimer’s). Students will label “mini-brains” to take with them. Students will also create their own mini-brains to label.

5) Wastewater: We Treat It Right – Mon, Tues, Wed & Fri
Tom Bouton, Toni Smith & Others – Boise Water Shed – tbouton@cityofboise.org
Students will have a learning lesson and hands-on experience with wastewater science. The class clears up all the confusing aspects of wastewater treatment so people who aren’t walking textbooks can appreciate the process. The students will each have a chance to treat water that is filled with pollutants like: coffee grounds, tootsie rolls, garden soil, and sea salt.

6) Adaptations and Physiology of Raptors – Mon, Tues, Wed & Fri
Mark Purdy, Education Programs Coordinator and Trish Nixon, Raptor Specialist – mpurdy@peregrinefund.org
Staff from The Peregrine Fund’s World Center for Birds of Prey will present 2 live raptors to students. The informative, interactive presentations will uncover the fascinating features found only on birds of prey – adaptations vital to their existence and which assist them in fulfilling their niche in the wild. Students will also learn how a bird of prey “works” – HOW do they catch that wild meal, WHY do some birds hear so much better than others, and WHAT is the fastest bird on the planet? These questions and more will be covered in detail and with live birds in the classroom for students to study, the session should be quite engaging.

7) Extreme Weather! – Mon, Tues, Wed & Fri
Paul Flatt & Associates, National Weather Service/NOAA – paul.flatt@noaa.gov
Meteorologists will show students how the science of meteorology can be used to make weather forecasts. Students will use data from weather balloons, satellite, and radar to make their own weather forecast for a location in Idaho. The meteorology behind monster storms, like hurricanes and tornadoes will also be discussed.

8) Ecosystems Alive! – Mon, Tues & Fri
Mia Puopolo, PCC AmeriCorps Member, Deer Flat Wildlife Refuge – mia_puopolo@fws.gov
If you had a magic want, would you get rid of mosquitoes? How about snakes? Students learn about habitats, food webs, and ecosystems as they come to understand why all wildlife – small and large, liked and disliked – are important for a healthy ecosystem, plus a hands-on activity.

9) Extreme Catapults – Scientific Method in Action – Mon & Tues
Micron Technology Employees, Micron Technology, Inc & Micron Foundation. – www.micron.com/education
Students will use catapults to learn how engineers solve problems using the scientific method. Generate and test hypotheses, and record and analyze data.

10) Electricity & Magnetism – Tues & Wed
Physics Club, Mountain View High School, Meridian ID – stoker.chris@meridianschools.org
This presentation will be a series of hands-on demostrations that cover the basics of electricity and magnetism. Students from the physics club at Mountain View High School will present a range of interesting and entertaining demos that cover topics from static electricty to compasses and from hydro-electric dams to high velocity electromagnetic weapons. Demos will include waterbending, home-made motors and generators, a rail gun, and a Van De Graph generator producing a "hair-raising" experience.

11) Rocketry – Mon & Fri
Kevin Young, Idaho National Laboratory – kevin.young@.inl.gov
A “hands-on” presentation introduces students to what a rocket and satellite are, a brief history of their development, how they’ve changed our lives, and finally what makes them work. Students will learn about the physics behind rocketry and satellites by participating in over six fun and exciting hands-on demonstrations. These demonstrations help explain how Newton’s Three Laws of Motion apply to rocketry, how the basic rocket engine works, how gravity and velocity keep a satellite in orbit, how gyros are used to guide satellites/rockets and how satellites send information back to earth.

12) Warhawk Museum – Thurs
Kari Curry, Education Director, Warhawk Museum – railey@cableone.net
Students will examine the four forces of flight and come to see how each force plays a role in aviation. Short experiments will show how each force is applied to flight. Participants will consider design and construction of aircraft as it applies to effective and efficient flight. After the discussion and experiments, participants can choose several areas of exploration to further their thinking.

For More Information, Contact:
Marilyn Whitney, Idaho National Laboratory
marilyn.whitney@inl.gov / PH: 334-9572