Category: Lower School Science

February is Black History Month!

marinprepscienceLower School Science

 

Here are just a few examples of the phenomenal contributions made by black inventors, scientists, and engineers everyday.

 

Lets start with Mae Carol Jemison (born: October 17, 1956) who  became the first African American woman to travel in space aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour on September 12, 1992.

However, Mae Jemison is more than an astronaut- she is also a teacher, a medical professional, a Peace Corps volunteer, and founder and president of two tech companies.

On the Endeavor, Mae Jemison conducted medical research while in orbit.  As a mission specialist, and working with a colleague, Mae Jemison co-led two bone cell research experiments aboard the Endeavor ( mission STS-47).

 

Mae Jemison aboard the Endeavor in 1992.  Credit: NASA

 

In addition to her scientific contributions, Mae Jemison has been an advocate and mentor for bringing technology to nations around the world as well as inspiring a love of science for youth and minorities.

 

To learn more about Mae Carol Jemison click here and to learn about other Black Scientists click here.

Speaking about technology…

Every time you PRINT a document or image from your computer feel free to give a virtual high-five to computer engineer Dr. Mark Dean (born: March 2, 1957).

 

Dr. Dean is a prominent inventor and pioneer of landmark technologies in computer science.  Honored as one of the “50 Most Important African Americans in Technology” in 2000 by the California African-American Museum, Dr. Dean holds more than 20 patents and was instrumental in the invention of the Personal Computer (PC) during his early years of work with IBM.

 

In addition, Dr. Dean and a colleague developed the first system to enable computers to communicate with other devices- like a printer or speaker- and led a team in inventing the 1-Gigahertz chip (which contains one million transistors, btw,  and has nearly limitless potential).

Thank you Dr. Dean!

To learn more about Dr. Mark Dean click here.

Ok, but what about technology before computers…

Meet the Ishango Bone, a 22,000 yr old baboon fibula found in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) near the Uganda border.  Buried in layers of volcanic ash archeologists believe the bone was used as a mathematical computation device by an ancient African civilization.  Sort of looks like a calculator.  Don’t you think?

To learn more about the Ishango Bone click here or watch the videos below.

 

For more on Black History Month 2018:

ASALH

AfricanHistoryMonth.org

 

Global Citizenship, Disaster Relief, & Symmetry

marinprepscienceLower School Science

Global Citizenship

Hurricanes, earthquakes, wild fires… the headlines in the news during the last several months have been filled with natural disasters and… heartbreak.  

In an era of a rapidly changing climate and an unprecedented frequency and intensity of climate related weather anomalies across the globe our conversations in the MPS Science lab have turned towards Global Citizenship. 

We know that we can’t turn back time or reverse the damage already done to our stratosphere (yes, that ‘onion skin’ deep layer of atmosphere around our earth ‘onion’ that protects us from solar radiation) but we can change the choices we make going forward, as Global Citizens, to help mitigate future damage to our environment and our delicate stratosphere. 

Global Citizenship is the idea that everyone, no matter where they live, are part of a worldwide community.  Global Citizens have multi-cultural awareness, fight for sustainability, are service oriented, and understand the importance of communicating across cultures- often speaking another language, and they have a sense of civic duty.

Global Citizenship begins at home, in our community, and with our children.   

Makers & Disaster Relief

As Global Citizens we can share our knowledge and resources with others to develop solutions to a better way of life, environmental sustainability, economic security, and disaster relief across the globe.  

Calling all Makers… the Maker non-profit Field Ready has made a list of top-priority challenges in hopes that innovators across the globe will contribute solutions to problems faced by communities in the Caribbean affected by the 2017 Hurricane season.  The Field Ready mission is time sensitive and they aim to begin implementation of proposed solutions by November 8th, 2017 in areas of need. 

Are you game?  This week, our 4th grade student investigators will be going over this Field Ready list that includes needs as varied as water desalination, replacement parts, and traffic control strategies.   You can find the needs list here:  FIELD READY- Call to Action

Symmetry in Nature

Finally, our students have been observing symmetry in nature, under the microscope, and- because we are a STEAM science lab- in art and culture.  Last week, we learned about an extraordinary fish who is an expert in symmetry.  Enjoy!

Let’s Talk Science!

marinprepscienceLower School Science

CASSINI- MISSION COMPLETE

After 20 years and billion miles from planet Earth, the Cassini-Huygens Spacecraft completed its last mission today (September 15th, 2017) at 4:55 am.  It’s mission was to fly into the atmosphere of Saturn and burn up into a cloud of tiny particles- sending info back to the Earth right up until the moment it detonated.  Cassini taught us a lot about planet Saturn, and its moons, and will be missed by many.  Mission complete!

The Cassini-Huygens Spacecraft- a joint effort between NASA, ESA (the European Space Agency), and the Italian Space agency- has been known simply as Cassini and was the first spacecraft to orbit Saturn.  Marin Preparatory School 3rd grader, Zachary, Talks Science with us and breaks down the importance of Cassini to space research.

To learn more about the important research done with the help of Cassini click here.  To see some amazing photography taken by Cassini click here. Happy Friday!

 

 

 

September is National Hispanic Heritage Month!

marinprepscienceLower School Science

Our students are learning about Science through the Technology and Engineering lens.  Since the first time a Neanderthal took a stick to dig up a root for dinner-  technology has been around.

 

Technology is how we investigate the scientific world around us.  Technology is how we improve our lives, improve the environment, win a war, make peace, create beautiful things, and break things down.

 

The how and why of technology in our lives as a society is endless.  One thing is certain, technology is developed through a combination of creative thought, asking many questions,  and using mathematical principles.

 

September is National Hispanic Heritage Month!  

 

We would to take a moment to honor the contributions made by Hispanic scientists, engineers, poets, artists, medical professionals, educators, and community activists to our world.

 

Below you will find links to several cool websites honoring some important Hispanic contributions made by a Pre-Incan civilization, the first Latina Astronaut- Ellen Ochoa, and Mario Ochoa who was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2013.  Enjoy!

 

Click on the links below:

National Hispanic Heritage Month 2017

Engineering the Incan World

How Stuff Works-10 Hispanic Scientists You Should Know

 

Summer 2017- Science Around the World

marinprepscienceLower School Science

We would like to dedicate our first blog entry to an exciting summer of science around the world!

 

People from all over the world flocked to San Francisco this summer to celebrate the 50th year anniversary of the Summer of Love.  ‘Is this science?’, one may ask.  In fact, the social change that took place in 1967 is a great example of our human race adapting as a society to a new way of thinking in a modern world.   What are some other examples of human, or animal, adaptation?

 

In July, one of the largest icebergs ever recorded broke off from the Larsen C Ice Shelf in Antarctica.  A barometer of our changing climate, perhaps, but what does this really mean?

 

The world witnessed North Korea testing their capabilities to launch a missile after many years of learning the science and engineering behind a missile launch.  They were successful this summer.  What exactly is the science behind a missile launch?  How do ethics play a role in scientific experimentation of this magnitude?

 

On August 21st, North America experienced a Total Solar Eclipse!  Our very own MPS Faculty took a break from organizational meetings to catch a glimpse of the eclipse through the San Francisco fog.  The next Total Solar Eclipse visible from North America will be April 8, 2024… how old will you be then?

 

Finally, the science faculty at MPS have been busy organizing the new STEAM Science Laboratory.  An exciting 2017/18 academic year is planned  to include a Makers Lab, ‘Break It Down’ Science, and working with our scientific community in the classroom.

 

It is going to be a great year in science!