Welcome to this week’s issue of Science Matters in Wisconsin.Please share this with a colleague!
– Professional Development
PHOX – Fox Valley Physics Sharing will meet on January 4th at Appleton West High School (Room 343) starting at 5:30. The group will meet at Berlin High School on March 7 and Neenah High School on May 2.Contact Scott Hertting (shertting@neenah.k12.wi.us) for more information.
– Science Spotlight
Censoring Science:The U.S. Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity has asked Science and Nature to censor some of the details of scientific research related to the Bird Flu.Researchers in the Netherlands and at the University of Wisconsin Madison analyzed the Bird Flu virus, which included determining how the virus might evolve to be more easily passed between people.In the wrong hands, this research could create a potential bioweapon…in the right hands, this research could lead to better ways to combat deadly flu epidemics.
- Connections between changing land cover and climate change (Dec 14 @ 7:15)
- Electrolysis on the International Space Station (HS Chemistry, Dec 15 @ 5:30)
- Electromagnetic Spectrum: Remote Sensing of Ice on Mars (Dec 19 @ 5:30)
– Science Spotlight
The news wires are abuzz with the Higgs boson this week.The Higgs boson is (theoretically) the subatomic particle that gives matter mass.Scientists haven’t found it yet, but they are closing in.Here are three stories that show the significance of the Higgs boson and describe how scientists are closing in on finding it.
WATCH UW-MADISON ENGINEERING UNDERGRADS PRESENT THEIR REAL-WORLD DESIGNS Deriving their inspiration from fields ranging from music and ice hockey to cross-country skiing and wind energy, eight UW-Madison undergraduate engineering student design teams will compete Dec. 14 for a top cash prize of $2,500. The students, who are majoring in engineering mechanics and astronautics and mechanical engineering will display working prototypes of their designs as part of the EMA/ME Design Competition.
Welcome to this week’s issue of Science Matters in Wisconsin.Please share this with a colleague!
– Professional Development
Georgia Tech, in partnership with NASA, provides online professional development courses and certificates.Enrollment is now open for Spring 2012 opportunities. http://www.nasaepdn.gatech.edu/
WSST Foundation Grants Due Dec. 22
The Wisconsin Society of Science Teachers Foundation has a number of grant opportunities available to support innovative projects and your professional development.Check them out here: http://www.wsst.org/node/66
– Science Spotlight
- How a collapsing scientific hypothesis led to a lawsuit and arrest.
This story about research into the retrovirus called XMRV is a fascinating look at bias, scientific ethics, and the process of peer review.It is an excellent example for students to show how ideas are tested and verified by the scientific community. http://tinyurl.com/arstecnicaxmrv
– Website of the Week
Edheads is an organization that provides engaging web simulations / activities for kids.Current activities focus on simulated surgical procedures, cell phone design (with market research), simple and compound machines, and weather prediction. http://edheads.org/
– Video of the Week
- Was this NFL Flop Real or Fake?
A couple of weeks ago, Jerome Simpson of the Cincinnati Bengals was shoved by the Browns’ Fujita after the whistle.Simpson went flying…and Fujita was flagged for a personal foul.In this entertaining blog post, physicist Rhett Allain uses the conservation of momentum and video analysis to determine if Simpson faked his flight. http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/11/was-this-nfl-flop-real-or-fake/
