Science Club promotes the fun of science to K-12 students
By Emily Schmidt
University Communications Student Assistant
studentpio@minotstateu.edu
MINOT, N.D. – The Minot State Beta Gamma Phi Science Club has been performing weekly interactive science experiments for after-school programs in local elementary and middle schools since November of 2018.
Salina Carter, secretary of the club and a general chemistry major at Minot State, put the idea into motion after mentioning to chemistry instructor and Science Club advisor Naomi Winburn a need for community service hours for an honors class. Winburn knew that Community Learning Centers (CLC) would be the perfect opportunity to both earn community service hours and to engage young students into learning about science.
Winburn’s daughter, Micah Winburn, studies professional chemistry and is the PR and CSO of Science Club. She agrees that CLC is a good opportunity to teach kids about science.
“We always like to work with the younger children before they have a chance to become afraid of science, get them before they get that phobia,” Micah Winburn said.
In the past, the Science Club has presented experiments with a Ruben’s tube, or a soundboard using six-foot tube of fire, and smoke bubbles you can hold in your hand. This year the group has been touring with a rocket launcher to commemorate Minot State alumnus and NASA Integration and Test Manager Veronica Pinnick’s induction into the Academic Hall of Fame.
Eric Olson, Science Club vice president and chemistry education major, helped build the rockets for this presentation.
“We’ve had the rocket launchers for years, so we had a basic design of how they’d been doing it,” he said. “Then last summer, Matthew (Science Club President Matthew Winburn) and I added three more rocket launchers so we’d be able to take them to the schools,” Olson said. “To build them, it was just figuring out how they fit on the pipe, how well they shoot, and picking some different designs that look pretty much the same, but there’s something different about each one so the kids can get a chance to experiment with them.”
The experiments never fail to amaze the CLC students, and the club members all agreed that the students’ reactions are one of the best parts about presenting.
Matthew Winburn, a professional chemistry major, noticed this.
“At 23, there are things I've seen a million and a half times, and I swear to God every time it changes color they just lose their minds,” he said. “Every time, without fail, it blows them away, so seeing their excitement, it’s something I forget, like, this is cool. Just because I've done it 101 times doesn’t mean it’s not cool to everybody else, especially to kids who have never seen anything like it.”
On top of that, timid or disinterested students tend to warm-up to the experiments every time.
Micah Winburn especially enjoys seeing this happen.
“I like watching them kind of open up to science a little bit because you always have one that’s afraid of it when you start, and by the end they’re up front, like, ready to go, and I just like watching them come into science and enjoy it,” she said.
The Science Club is made up of many science majors, but they want to stress that the club is open to everyone.
“I don’t care who you are or what you’re studying. We’ll find something for you do to that’s up your alley,” said Micah.
Learning goes both ways in these outreaches. Not only do the CLC students learn about science, but the Science Club members gain valuable experience using skills needed in their fields of study.
“I’m actually chemistry education, so this is great because I can take these to whatever school I might end up teaching in, and even if I can talk with that school and go to an elementary school and have the high schoolers come in and do some of these demos, get them interested that way,” Olson said.
“I'll be going into healthcare, so it’s giving me the experience to explain things better and in different ways so that people can understand it. Me being 20 and explaining it to seven-year-olds is good,” Carter added.
Visit the Minot State Science Club FACEBOOK page for more information and to see them in action.
About Minot State University
Minot State University is a public university dedicated to excellence in education, scholarship, and community engagement achieved through
rigorous academic experiences, active learning environments, commitment to public service, and a vibrant campus life.
| Published: 11/21/19 |
