July 19. 2006 6:59AM
Students have opportunity to participate in hands-on activities
KIM KILBRIDE
Tribune Staff Writer
SOUTH BEND -- Erik Sanders and Pradhuman Ejner spent a recent afternoon in the basement confines of a physics lab building a tiny laser fence. "Ours is a three-mirror system," Erik, an eighth-grader at John Young Middle School, said of his team's invention.
It was a miniature version of the security devices often used to protect valuable pieces of art in museums.
Pradhuman, an eighth-grader at Jackson Intermediate Center, said with a smile that the pair was thinking about setting up similar systems in their respective bedrooms to keep unwanted visitors out.
The two middle schoolers were among 20 who recently spent a week in the Sensing Our World summer camp at the University of Notre Dame.
This was the first year for the program to be offered locally.
The goal of the camp, said Karen Morris, an organizer, was simply to stimulate middle school students' interest in physical science.
Through hands-on activities, students learned about the scientific principles behind sensors used in everyday life.
They made electric circuits, built their own detectors and learned about polymers, cryogenics and electrical generators, among other things.
The kids also had the opportunity to tour and work in the various science labs located all over the Notre Dame campus.
For Morris, the most exciting part of the week was witnessing the inquisitiveness of the students.
"Hearing their questions and seeing the 'aha' moments," she said.
The camp originated at Michigan State University's Center for Sensor Materials in 1998.
Since then, more than 300 students have gone through the program.
Ann Kirchmeier, the founder of the camp, was on hand at Notre Dame.
She said "Sensing Our World" is geared toward middle schoolers because they're at an "at-risk" age when it comes to losing interest in science.
It's also a crucial time because they'll soon be making decisions about which classes to take in high school and to some extent, even about what career paths they'll choose, she said.
Suzanne Coshow, director of educational outreach programs for the Joint Institute for Nuclear Astrophysics, based at Notre Dame, saw the benefits of the program at MSU and with Morris' help and the assistance of the original teaching staff, set out to replicate the program locally.
David Bernstein, meanwhile, a seventh-grader at Discovery Middle School, said he heard about the science camp from his dad, who is a professor at Notre Dame.
David's favorite part of the week, he said, on the fourth day of the program, was the laser fence activity.
Overall, he said, he really enjoyed the camp.
"It's been fun because of the hands-on activities."
Students had to apply for the program, which was partially funded by the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County.
While there was an initial fee of $200 per attendee, the money was refunded on the final day of camp provided students participated all week.
Staff writer Kim Kilbride:
kkilbride@sbtinfo.com
(574) 235-6554
( Taken from South
Bend Tribune, July 19, 2006 )
