Being a Science Mentor

There has been plenty of coverage lately about America’s drop-off in international rankings when it comes to science and math. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) is an education focused group that is trying to reverse this troubling trend. Together with Science Pioneers, STEM and other Kansas City Organizations come together and nurture interest in our young scientists.

Hundreds of students (and their parents & teachers) descended upon the Student Union Building at UMKC on a November Saturday morning; looking for inspiration in this year’s upcoming science projects. I was proud to represent my company and displayed a professional table at which a diaphragm pump and vacuum desiccator was used to mimic the effects of space (or reduced atmospheric pressures) on household items.

Students were encouraged to hypothesize what would happen to each object they observed. Such as the inflating –then deflating, then crushing- marshmallow and circus peanuts, or the bubbling expanding shaving cream. The bravest students dared to even eat one of the crushed, raison-esque marshmallows. However, most were stuck scratching their heads trying to puzzle out how this mere mortal was able to take water at room temperature, boil it and chill it at the same time. 

Unabashedly, my favorite moment of the morning was when one of the young ladies (2nd from the bottom - picture above)  was able to describe, in some detail, why the marshmallow seemed to inflate in the vaccum chamber, then why it seemed to burst after a few minutes and finally why it was crushed when the chamber was vented back to atmosphere. These young minds are a shining testiment to the power that STEM and Science Pioneers can provide to the future of this country. 

I tip my hat off to the volunteers that made this event possible!