Cycle for Science
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Cycle for Science www.cycleforscience.org www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ed4txeUSlks
Gail Oare
A
mericans headed West in the 1800s in covered wagons for better lives and fortunes. Then in the 1900s, many crossed the country in search of personal adventures of the type mythologized in the 1960s television show Route 66 and in Jack Kerouac’s On the Road. Today, trekkers are frequently motivated to cross the continent for the higher purpose of generating support for global social causes, such as medical research. Two young scientists from California recently became members of this elite latter category. Also bicycling enthusiasts, Elizabeth Case and Rachel WoodsRobinson literally put a new spin on social outreach by pedaling the width of the country while engaging hundreds of students along the way in enjoyment of science and appreciation of its potential to solve real-world problems. Their 3500-mile bike trip began in April 2015 and ended in mid-July in
New York City after 89 days on the road. Prior to their departure, they had developed the title of “Cycle for Science” and adopted the theme of renewable energy to illustrate their message. They then solicited support, scheduled school visits along their path, and designed a solar-driven model bicycle for use in the classroom. Using a three-dimensional (3D) printer, they produced copies of this Sol Cycle that they carried with them for use in the 22 workshops they would conduct at 10 locations in California, Idaho, Wyoming, Iowa, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and New York. “We planned our workshop for middle-school students,” Case said, “but we actually worked with students from ages 4 through 18.” Undaunted, they adjusted their lessons as needed to accommodate everyone in the classes. Their “Cycle for Science” lesson plan started with introductions and a
description of exciting careers in science. Woods-Robinson is a materials researcher and Case is pursuing her PhD degree in mechanical engineering. Next they introduced the concept of 3D printing and its advantages over other manufacturing methods, followed by a brief physics lesson on photovoltaic energy conversion and a discussion of atoms. With older students, they also discussed photons and the concept of particle/wave duality. Then the workshop fun really began. In a short skit about energy, four students played the roles of the sun, a nucleus of a silicon atom, a low-energy electron orbiting the nucleus, and a motor. In the performance, the sun threw off packets of quantized energy (“role-played” by candy or snack bars). The newly energized electron then broke free of its nucleus until the hungry motor grabbed the energy packets. As the motor began to spin, the sad electron returned to its low-energy state around the nucleus to await the arrival of the next photon. After role-playing, the students were ready to construct and operate their Sol Cycle. Teams worked to figure out how to attach the motor, where to put the rubber bands to achieve the most efficient gear ratio, and how to connect the alligator clips
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