| No.91,
September 2009 |
New Developments in Science and Science Education
- Technology Applied to Sports is the topic of
an article in the Columbus Dispatch Newspaper for
July 9, 2008 on page A8. The article describes how swimmers
use Speedo's LZR Racer swimsuit to improve times, tennis
rackets are lighter with a larger sweet spot, and bicycles for
racing are lighter and their riders use helmets and tight-fitting
clothing to reduce air resistence. Do you know of other
applications of technology to improve performance in sports?
- There are two AAPT programs that you might want
to consider. (They are not real new.) One is PTRA
(Physics Teaching Resource Agents) and it provides mature mentor
teachers to classroom (in-service) teachers of physics. The
second program is PhysTec which provides mentoring
for pre-service teachers. Use www.aapt.org.
- The PhysicsFront.org offers online teaching
and learning helps for pre-college physics and physical science
courses. New and crossover teachers could benefit from this
service. The helps include lesson plans, labs, teaching tips,
etc. Use www.thephysicsfront.org.
- Are you aware of the Southeast Ohio Center for Excellence
in Mathematics and Science? It results from a joint
program with Ohio University, the University of Rio Grande and
Rio Grande Community College, and Shawnee State University.
Grant money has helped middle and high school teachers of math
and science to form teams to boost math, science and technology
instruction. Studies are being done on ways to improve student
comprehension.
- Columbus has a summer camp program called Summer Engineering
Experience for Kids (or SEEK). It is a three-week
program to encourage students in middle school to develop an
interest in math and science. The students made gliders and
vehicles with mentoring by college engineering students.
Columbus schools are emphasizing math and science and are
promoting a STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math)
initiative. Read about this in the Columbus Dispatch
on pages B1 and B2 in the August 2, 2008 issue.
- Raman Spectroscopy and Its Medical Uses.
This spectroscopy uses laser light scattered from an atom to
identify it. When laser light shines on a target, it is scattered
into a spectrum of different wavelengths or frequencies.
The features (wavelengths and their intensities) of the spectrum
are specific to a given atom. In order to detect tumors in a
human body, gold nanoparticles coated with an antibody for a
given cancer cell are introduced into the body and these go to
the tumor. The scattering of the laser light from the tumor
cell is enhanced by the gold nanoparticle and the cancer cell
stands out from the normal cell. (It gives a different image or
spectrum from a normal cell.) This can be helpful in detecting
cancer. This spectroscopy may be helpful also in detecting the
chemical changes that are associated with a tooth cavity. For a
reference, use Science News for August 2, 2008 on
pages 22-25.
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