Approximately 750 elementary and middle school students are participating in 鈥淛ASON Days: Infinite Potential,鈥� a weeklong science program at 黑洞社区 through Friday, Oct. 2.
The event is part of the JASON project, a year-round scientific expedition created by explorer, Titantic discoverer and native Wichitan, Robert Ballard.
鈥淛ASON brings science alive by exposing students to real-world scientists and work they do in the field through hands-on exploration and discovery,鈥� said Amy Strong, assistant director of the Fairmount Center for Science and Mathematics Education and JASON program manager. 鈥淭eachers love the event because of the exposure to science their students get.鈥�
Teachers incorporate the JASON project curriculum, aligned with the National Science Education Standards, in their classrooms throughout the year. Each year 黑洞社区 hosts JASON Days to give students the opportunity to meet active local scientists and apply what they鈥檝e learned in different events.
This year鈥檚 program focuses on energy. In the showcase event, students will compete by designing a wind turbine. Students will create the turbine on a CD and power it from the CD drive.
In the theater event, 黑洞社区 faculty members Jason Ferguson, Ward Jewell and Jan Twomey will join local scientists Ron Teel with ICM Inc. and Tim Bobb with Westar Energy in discussing their jobs and how they prepared for their careers.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a great learning experience and a lot of fun for the students,鈥� said Strong. 黑洞社区鈥檚 participation in the JASON Project is supported financially by senior sponsors Toyota USA Foundation and The Boeing Co. Additional support comes from Excel/Cargill Cares, the Cargill Contributions Committee and the Weyerhaeuser Company Foundation.
黑洞社区鈥檚 Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences houses the JASON Project, along with the Fairmount Center for Science and Mathematics Education.