Political Update
Representative David Millard, from the Bloomsburg Berwick area, introduced an amendment to the House Budget Bill. Representative Millard’s amendment requested support for Science in Motion by shifting some of the money from Governor Rendell’s Education Block Spending Program into the Basic Education/Higher Education Science and Technology Consortium. His amendment passed 192-7 in the House. I don’t know who voted against the amendment nor do I know where this amendment is in the Senate process.

There has been legislation to have us become a permanent part of the State Grant Program. This legislation has been titled, The Science and Technology Partnership Act. A form of that bill unanimously passed in the House, HB 1618, in November. That bill is stuck in the Senate Education Committee. A senate administrative assistant said it would stay there because some people feel it is dictating curriculum to the schools. Not true. The companion Senate Bill, SB 83, has been stuck in the Senate Appropriations Committee since last fall. We need to get the Senate to move on at least one of these bills.

What can you do? Write or e-mail your area senators. After having spoken with several of our political pundits and their administrative assistants, I have a few suggestions to ensure the best possible voice for Science in Motion. All letters, whether hard copied or e-mailed, should be original. If you are starting from a boilerplate letter, that is great but is should not look like a form letter. All letters should have the home address of the sender on the letter. These letters should be sent to the legislators for the constituent, not the legislators, associated with the school district. Unless your students are eligible voters, student letters are really not appreciated. Letters should also be directed to Senator Rhodes, the Senate Majority Education Committee Chair, Secretary of Education, Vicki Phillips and Governor Rendell.

Capitol Day May 12 - What a busy time in Harrisburg
Once again we traveled to Harrisburg to set up a display in the Capitol. This year we chose to showcase several of our Crime Scene experiments. We were thrilled to have a few of our representative’s stop in on a busy day. We greeted Representatives Merle Phillips, David Millard, Russ Fairchild and Adam Harris. We appreciate the time these busy men took to stop by and show their support. The House was in session so they literally were visiting between meetings.

Madge says…
The Science in Motion van has logged many miles this spring! Mike McDevitt introduced me (and the students) to the fun of a liquid nitrogen demonstration with Deb Smeltzer’s Chemistry I classes at Milton High School before spring break. The 10th grade biology students at Lewisburg High School investigated the many characteristics of the catalase enzyme using the Vernier gas pressure probes with the help of teachers Kelly Chernago and Jessica Feerrar. We had quite active enzyme preps as evidenced by the occasional popping of a stopper. Bringing scientific knowledge to a personal level, Colleen Ruths and Yvonne Monahan’s chemistry students at Shikellamy High School investigated their EKGs and heart rates. The EKG and heart rate monitors teamed with the lap top computers helped students visualize the information and learn a bit more about their personal fitness levels.

Plants were the focus as Kathy Bower’s AP Biology class studied transpiration with the gas pressure probes at Milton High School. We found we had great technicians in this class! Continuing with plants, 9th and 10th grade Biology students measured dissolved oxygen while investigating the factors influencing photosynthesis in Elodea with the help of teachers Kathy Bower and Jocelyn Bailey. The same group then looked at the effect of temperature on cricket respiration using the CO2 respiration chambers and sensors. We had a lively (and large) group of crickets as our test subjects.

In my first trip to Shamokin High School, Bob Hartman’s Anatomy and Physiology students investigated the Energy Content of Foods. We were able to see some real differences in our test foods. On a personal note – thanks to the student who found and turned in my lost keys! Sheila Furr of Shikellamy High School and her Organic/Biochemistry classes culminated a study of proteins with several SIM labs. We determined the activity of the catalase enzyme under a number of conditions, looked at the effect of alcohol on cell membranes using beet cubes and colorimeters, and finally used gel electrophoresis to separate proteins and determine the isoelectric points. Line Mountain’s AP Biology class was the next stop. Teacher Alan Zelnick and the students performed the DNA fingerprinting experiment. We learned about gel electrophoresis of DNA and the quantitative analysis of DNA fragment sizes.

The day began with rain but with the help of workers at the Sunbury water treatment site, I was able to set up shop in the garage and prepare for water quality analysis on samples collected by Jodi Cramer’s students from Shikellamy. Water quality was one of many stations students visited on this field trip. Matt Eisley’s chemistry classes at South Williamsport High School enjoyed my first solo liquid nitrogen demonstrations. The majority of the seniors were on a field trip so we combined classes and had great fun with the remaining students checking out the effect of extreme cold on many familiar objects. The reward was ice cream prepared by our wizard of the moment with the liquid nitrogen.

My last visits to Shikellamy and Danville allowed us to use all the crime scene technology currently in place. At Shikellamy I visited the Chemistry classes of Colleen Ruths, Yvonne Monahan, and Sheila Furr and at Danville I visited the AP Chemistry classes of Deb Slattery and the AP Biology classes of Sonia Guediche. The students at both schools investigated hair, fingerprint, blood, and DNA evidence collected at the crime scene in pursuit of their guilty suspect. Cause of death was determined by GC and HPLC analysis of liquid residue found at the scene. The students worked very hard with the techniques ranging from microscopy to electrophoresis to chromatography. Special thanks go to the teachers at both schools – without their help and leadership, the students would not have been able to complete this large scale crime scene!

As this school year draws to a close, I would like to thank all the teachers for their help, patience, and encouragement. I look forward to the summer workshop and many more opportunities to share the love of science with students and teachers in our region! Happy summer!

Amusement Park Physics - Knoebel’s here we come, or LOOK OUT!
We have purchased some new physics probes and equipment. A small group of teachers visited Knoebel's Amusement Park in late in May to pilot these experiments. Since they were so successful, we will offer a Knoebel’s Physics Day as part of the summer workshop. The plan is to have amusement park physics available for use in your classrooms by next spring since Knoebel's closes the week after Labor Day.

Summer workshop is full with a waiting list
Our summer workshop is full with a waiting list. We have 20 new teachers committed to the week with a waiting list of 2 more teachers. In addition, we have 5-6 teachers who were attendees in previous years who would like opportunities to learn more experiments and develop new experiments. At the very least, they are looking for help to peak and tweak their favorite classroom activities. If you also have experiments you would like to overhaul or just work out, call us and we will see if we can fit you into the schedule.

Chemistry Mobile Educator – still open

SUSQUEHANNA UNIVERSITY Chemistry Mobile Science Teacher

Susquehanna University invites applications for the position of Chemistry Mobile Science Teacher to work for the Central Pennsylvania Basic Ed/Higher Education Science Partnership administered by Susquehanna University.

Duties include working with high school teachers in surrounding counties by visiting with a van equipped with modern chemistry equipment, aiding resident teachers in demonstrations and/or directing students in the use of this equipment, helping to coordinate day conferences and summer workshops for participating teachers and maintaining the equipment and supplies in the van. PA teaching certification in chemistry or related secondary science are required. Other qualifications include high school chemistry teaching experience and the ability to work successfully with teachers at all levels of career development. Previous experience in science outreach is desirable. This is a full-time twelve-month grant funded position.

The initial contract ends on June 30, 2004 with one-year renewals possible contingent upon continued state funding.

Please send a letter of application, resume, and letters of reference by January 31, 2004 to:

Dr. Jan Reichard-Brown - Director, Science in Motion
Susquehanna University, 514 University Avenue, Selinsgrove, PA 17870
Type: Administrative Months: 12

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