Newsletter No. 22 - August 16th, 2010  |
Festival Dates: Expo Dates:
10/10/10
- 10/24/10 10/23 & 10/24
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Celebrate Science:
Don't miss the Expo on the National Mall
October 23 and 24, 2010, 10am-5:30pm
Over 1500 hands-on science and engineering activities
More than 50 stage shows on four stages
A free event for all ages
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Exhibitors: you should have received an email last week with your booth location - if you did not, please check your spam filter, and if you did not receive it, contact expoquestions@usasciencefestival.org
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Last Chance to Submit for the Kavli Video Contest!
K-12 Students: Tell us why Science is
Cool! Enter now for the USA Science & Engineering Festival
Kavli Science Video Contest!
Submit a video explaining why science is cool and have the possibility of having your video screened on the
National Mall, winning prize money and possibly even a trip to the Expo in
Washington D.C.!
Deadline for submissions is August 31st, 2010.
To learn more click here.
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Our Newest Wordle Has Been Revealed!
An Image of our Wordle which asked: If you could make one new scientific discovery or invention what would it be?
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Here is the USA Science and Engineering Festival's newest Wordle based on responses to the question: "If you could make one new scientific discovery or invention, what would it be?"
Keep your eyes open for our next question and keep the responses coming!
To find out more about
Wordles and to create your own clouds go to www.wordle.net
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Just the Partner the Doctor Ordered: The National Institutes of Health offers a captivating journey
through the science behind
health's mysteriesWe all have a body. But most of us don't understand how it
works.  The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the perfect place
to begin searching for answers, because answering the whos, whats, whens,
wheres, whys and hows of health is what NIH researchers have been doing for
over 100 years. NIH, part of the
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is America's medical research
agency. NIH makes monumental
medical discoveries that improve health and save lives every day. As part of
the USA Science & Engineering Festival, NIH has created a vast array of
interactive, fun, and attention-grabbing activities to represent the research
of its 27 Institutes and Research Centers. On October 23rd and 24th, the NIH
will bring its 46 hands-on exhibits to the Freedom Plaza and the National
Mall. With activities that use the
same technology that NIH researches use, you can use infrared imaging cameras
on a live person, perform surgery, and even extract DNA. The exhibits include
interactive demonstrations, movies, game shows and mind-boggling experiments
that let you in on NIH research and give you a glimpse into the fascinating
world of an NIH scientist.  NIH will also sponsor two live performances at the
National Mall. A healthy cooking show called "A Winning Meal with the Biggest
Loser" features an all-star cast. Pete Thomas of TV's "The Biggest Loser" and
NIH Executive Chef Robert Hedetniemi team up to help combat the childhood
obesity epidemic with an inspiring, delicious performance. This demonstration will
be held at the Wilson Plaza Stage at 10:30am on Saturday, Oct. 23rd.
NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins will perform at the
National Mall Stage on Sunday, October 24th at 2pm. Dr. Collins has
performed with Joe Perry, lead guitarist of Aerosmith, and has been officially
been named a "Rock Star of Science." Using both his musical prowess and
scientific know-how, Dr. Collins takes on classic rock songs and gives them a
new twist by changing the words to his original scientific lyrics. However, the weekend's
activities are only a small part of NIH's involvement in the Festival. In the
two weeks prior, scientists in the Nifty Fifty-including NIH's Dr. Francis Collins
and Dr. Anthony Fauci-will visit students from local schools to
inspire the next generation of scientists. Several NIH-supported Nobel Laureates-of
whom there have been over 130-will also be participating in the "Lunch with a
Laureate" program.
NIH is the largest
source of funding for medical research in the world. NIH studies have led to the development of MRI, understanding
of how viruses can cause cancer, insights into cholesterol control, knowledge
of how our brain processes visual information, and much more. T  hanks in large
part to NIH-funded medical research, Americans today are living longer and
healthier lives. NIH continues to seek fundamental knowledge about the nature
and behavior of living systems and the application of that knowledge to enhance
health, lengthen life, and reduce the burdens of illness and disability.
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From Baseball Research to Nanoparticles: Explore the Excitement of Emerging Technologies With the University of Massachusetts Lowell
What goes on behind the scenes as researchers test and certify balls and bats for use in Major League Baseball? How will nanoparticles, network sensors and adaptive technologies revolutionize many aspects of our lives in products of tomorrow?
The answers will surprise and intrigue you! Find out when you visit the hands-on exhibits of the University of Massachusetts Lowell which explore a wide range of emerging technologies at the USA Science & Engineering Festival Expo on the National Mall this October!
"UMass Lowell is committed to inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers," says Provost Ahmed Abdelal. "Through innovative and collaborative research, in corporate and international partnerships, by excellent teaching and creative outreach, our faculty and students tackle every challenge."
Here's a brief description of the Expo exhibits that UMass Lowell will be presenting:
- Share Scientific Info With the World Through iSENSE: Learn how to use UMass Lowell's PINPoint data gatherer to collect environmental data, and upload it to the university's public web site. From there, you can create, document, and share scientific visualizations that merge your data with data contributed by other users around the World.
This program by UMass Lowell's Computer Science Department - called iSENSE (Internet System for Networked Sensor Experimentation) - trains educators in hands-on science using networked sensor probes.
- Nanotechnology -- Harnessing the Power of Small Things: Explore how nanopart
 icles, measuring in billionths of a meter, are likely to fuel the next economic boom. Existing products can be made more useful, cost-effective and durable through the incorporation of nano-size materials. Entirely new nanoproducts, as yet undreamed of, will revolutionize many aspects of our lives.
- We Live in a World of Plastics: Immerse yourself in the ubiquitous world of plastics! An integral part of our daily lives, plastics are used practically everywhere - from consumer goods, medical devices and electronics to food packaging, storage and other industrial applications. Yet there are few academic institutions that specialize in this growing materials field. Come see how UMass Lowell is recognized as a global leader in Plastics Engineering education.
- Making Life Better For Others Through Engineering: Use your problem-solving skills to experiment with ways to improve life for others through engineering! See if you can solve engineering challenges to enhance daily life for someone with a physical disability. Learn how students in the Service Learning Integrated throughout a College of Engineering (SLICE) Program at the Francis College of Engineering are meeting real the community needs while earning academic credit.
- The Science and Engineering Behind Baseball: Learn about the important role that science and engineering play in the equipment used in America's Favorite Pastime! This exhibit by the UMass Lowell's Baseball Research Center gives you a behind the scenes look at how researchers use high-speed pneumatic cannons and video cameras to test and certify baseballs and bats that are used in the NCAA and Major League Baseball.
- Studying Sea Life Up Close: Take a tour of the science of life in the ocean. Use a dissecting microscope to study the structure of animals, plants and rocks collected from the open ocean and estuaries. Learn how ocean acidification affects life in the sea, and what you can do to help keep our oceans teeming with their great diversity of life. This exhibit is conducted by the University of Massachusetts Intercampus Graduate Program in Marine Sciences and Technology.
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 A Perfect Festival Partner: The Dow Chemical Company
It is no surprise to find The Dow Chemical Company as a major sponsor of the inaugural USA Science and Engineering Festival. Dow supports educational initiatives around the world. Through partnerships with leading educational organizations and the involvement of Dow employees as volunteers, the company is committed to improving students' understanding of math, science and technology.
Bill Banholzer, CTO
 | Dow scientists understand that while innovation has to start with invention - it is much, much more than that. "Scientists might have this romantic notion that their inventions will save the world. But it takes more than a new discovery," remarked Dr. William F. Banholzer, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer. "It requires the time, effort and patience to take that discovery and create a disruptive change - a transformational technology - one that renders current technology obsolete. That is true innovation."
Dow's sponsored space, From Invention to Innovation, is in the Festival's Clean Tech Alley because R&D efforts for Clean Energy, Clean Water and Clean Air are at the forefront of Dow's Innovation Pipeline. Visitors will have the chance to experience how Dow scientists approach these challenges.
"We will offer participants the chance to work hands-on with Dow scientists to generate clean air, clean water and clean energy," said Innovation Communications Leader, Dr. Laura Vosejpka. "We want everyone to experience first hand the excitement that comes from actively using innovative chemistry materials to solve problems - just as our Dow scientists do every day!"
About Dow
Dow combines the power of science and technology with the "Human Element" to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company connects chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help address many of the world's most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, renewable energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow's diversified industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 160 countries and in high growth sectors such as electronics, water, energy, coatings and agriculture. In 2009, Dow had annual sales of $45 billion and employed approximately 52,000 people worldwide. The Company's more than 5,000 products are manufactured at 214 sites in 37 countries across the globe. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com
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PLTW Welcomes STEM Education's Best and Brightest to
Washington, DC
USA Science & Engineering Festival partner,
Project Lead The Way (PLTW) is preparing for an action-packed week this fall
with one focus: igniting STEM Education in America through imagination and
innovation. In the days  leading up
to the USA Science and Engineering Festival on the National Mall, PLTW is
bringing together some of the best and brightest minds in the STEM community
for its 2010 PLTW Innovation Summit.
Attending PLTW's summit will be STEM-related industry
representatives, public and private educational agencies, philanthropic
organizations and a wide cross-section of the greater STEM community. Participants will investigate, ideate
and ultimately ignite STEM education through imagination and innovation. The event is structured as a
collaborative three-day forum, featuring visionary keynote speakers, in-depth
panel discussions, hands-on breakout sessions and award-winning student project
displays. As you make your plans
for the USA Science and Engineering Festival, consider arriving a few days
e arly for PLTW's National Innovation Summit October 20-22! For more information on how to register
for the summit, visit http://beta.pltw.org/innovationsummit
When PLTW's Innovation Summit concludes on October 22,
the organization will launch its interactive student showcases at the USA
Science Festival on the National Mall on October 23-34. PLTW's STEM education program has been
extremely successful in engaging students in innovation and preparing them for
college and career success in STEM-related fields. The hands-on, project based program helps students connect
what they are learning in the classroom to real-life problems. Studies have shown that PLTW students
are more engaged in learning than their peers and more likely to attend college
and major in STEM-related fields than non-PLTW students. You c an catch a glimpse of why this
program is so successful by visiting their Engineering and Biomedical tents on
the Mall.
At the exhibition, PLTW students will showcase the
hands-on, project based activities they work on in classrooms every day. The engineering tent will feature
students exploring and investigating interactive projects, such as controlling
and operating an automated material sorter, using 3D modeling and animation
software to solve a puRed Blood Cells
 | zzle, applying alternative energy methods to create an
interactive LED display, and operating a ROV (Remote Operated Vehicle). At the biomedical sciences tent,
students will build models of different molecules, including DNA and proteins,
test their reaction time for various computer visual tasks, and measure their
blood pressure and heart rate using sensors and a computer.
USA Science Festival is extremely proud to partner
with
PLTW, a tru e pioneer in STEM education. The program is in more than 4,000 schools, reaching
approximately 350,000 students in all 50 states. Come out and visit with PLTW students, teachers and
representatives to learn more about how your community can further inspire the
next generation of innovators. And don't forget that PLTW's National Innovation Summit is just days
before the exhibit in Washington, DC ! For more information, visit www.pltw.org
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Correction:
In our last issue we had some incorrect information about Leon Harris. Here is the correction information:
Leon Harris, popular award-winning news anchor from ABC7/WJLA-TV (Washington, DC) will serve as emcee of the evening's festivities. Harris, after a 20-year tenure at CNN in Atlanta, is now the face of ABC7/WJLA-TV's 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts and is actively involved with charities to benefit low-income students and others.
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 THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS
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Silicon Valley Bank - Bechtel National Radio Astronomy Observatory Space X - Research In Motion SciVee - SchoolTube Thirty Meter Telescope Project Astronomy Outreach Foundation Virginia Commonwealth University School
of Engineering National Math and Science Initiative Rochester Institute of Technology SpringBoard, a Program of the Juneau
Economic Development Council
The Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science
Air Force Research Laboratory
The Aerospace Corporation
Periodic Quest Inc.
ExxonMobil
Data.gov
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Visit us online at www.usasciencefestival.org
New logo design by MORRIS
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Festival Host:
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Buy a Festival T-shirt
Buy 10 or more
and get 15% off
Go to store
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Science is Cool and
The Kavli Foundation
is challenging K-12 students
to explain why.
Submit your video now
for a chance to win
cash and electronics prizes!
Click here for more info
In partnership with
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Register your team for our
You Can Do the Rubik's
Cube Tournament
Click here for more info
In partnership with
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Engineering.com is partnering with The USA Science Festival to bring you "The Great Science Teacher Video Contest"
Are you a great science teacher? Prove it!
Submit your video now
for a chance to win
cash and electronics prizes!
Click here for more info
In partnership with
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Are you a Fan of the Festival?
Tell others by posting our
"I am a Fan" Logo
on your Facebook page, website, blog or wherever else you share information.
The logo is available for download on our
"Resources" page
In return, we will gladly post
a link to your site. Provide us with your basic info and your Fan "ShoutOut" about the Festival, and we will add you to our website...
Click here to fill out a brief form
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