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Current Topics

For K-12 Teachers Throughout Rhode Island (and Some Parts of MA and CT)

Topics RISG can present to your classes during the 2004-2005 academic year

  • Biology: What does a researcher do? What is neuroscience? Why is NASA interested in Brain Science? What changes happen to the human body in space? How do we keep our balance/see/hear/feel? What do drugs do to your brain? (Rebecca Brown)
  • Earth Science: Solar System; constellations with a bit of Greek mythology; weather & atmosphere, geology.
    • Chemistry: Acids, bases and pH; matter: classifying, properties, phases; chemical reactions.
    • Biology: Human Anatomy: a presentation that gives a general overview of the human body and in subsequent presentations I can cover major organs such as the brain, the heart, liver etc. Possibility of having real organs available so children can see them and touch them. Also, Animal Anatomy; Plants; Genetics: example, Cloning, Human Genome project; Biotechnology and Medicine, such as heart implants.
    • Health: discuss topics such as the importance of Nutrition, exercise, hygiene; the effects of illegal drugs and improper medication on the human body.
  • Physics: Aerodynamics; momentum; work power and simple machines. --Presented in either Spanish or English. (Linda Paniagua)
  • Engineering/Materials Science: The practical uses of materials in technology. How are materials used to generate power, provide protection or conduct electricity? Protective materials used for heat conduction or insulation. (For example - materials used as protective layers for space shuttles while in space and during re-entry). Electrically active materials used in energy production. – i.e. fuel cells and forms of "clean" energy that can power vehicles. Simple demonstrations to show how they actually work. (Brian Luisi)
  • Physics: How do we detect seismic waves, and what are they? Wireless communication - How does your cell phone work? The origin of the universe, Doppler Effect- How do we know the universe is expanding? What causes the Seasons of the earth? Gravity and inertia- What would happen to the moon's orbit without gravity? What causes the phases of the moons- tides? Newton's laws- How do rockets work? How does a planet’s distance from the sun affect its period of revolution? Electromagnetic spectrum- What are the different types of telescopes? (Megan Almond)
  • Planetary Geology: What is Planetary Geology? How are the other planets in our solar system different from Earth? Why are they so different? How do we study these other planets when they’re so far away? What is so special about Mars? Could there be life there? How similar is Mars to Earth? How may impacts of large objects (i.e., meteorites) affect a planet’s surface and the evolution of life on a planet?
  • Mathematics: "Why do we have to learn this?" How important are the simple principles of mathematics in a scientific field like planetary geology? How do scientists use basic mathematics to study the planets? (Kelly Wrobel)
  • Microgravity: KC-135 experiments and weightlessness. What’s it like to be in space and why should we bother going? How does your body respond to weightlessness, especially after a long time? Why do some people feel sick in microgravity? How does the Space station work and why do things orbit? What do the astronauts do in space? What is life like for an astronaut while in space? Will we be going to Mars or back to the Moon? Includes video and discussion of presenters' experiences aboard NASA's microgravity research airplane, the KC-135 (informally known as the Vomit Comet). (Various members of Brown’s NASA Reduced Gravity Student Flight Opportunities Program team)

We can visit the classroom to give a presentation on one of these topics - there is no fee involved.

For more information please contact the RI Space Grant Consortium office at Brown University (401) 863-2889.