*October 30 at ICAT STUDIOne *Collegiate Square - (near Next Door Bake Shop
and Center of Dance) (5 pm - 8 pm) FREE
Tech or Treaters ages five to twelve are invited to a Halloween event scarier than a hard drive full of critical data that isn't backed up. Demonstrations will include clever spooky-themed technologies developed by students and faculty at Virginia Tech in a family-friendly environment. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Co-presented by ICAT (Virginia Tech's Institute for Creativity Arts and Technology) and the Blacksburg Children's Museum.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Monday, October 22, 2012
Virginia Tech 2013 Spring Kids' Tech University program!
KTU is a semester-long educational research program developed by the Virginia Bioinformatics Institute at Virginia Tech in partnership with the Virginia 4-H, that puts
scientists and engineers in front of children to encourage the exploration of intriguing topics in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
After the success of KTU in 2009-12, we are excited to announce the 2013 spring semester event at Virginia Tech for kids between the ages of 9 and 12 (on September 30, 2012). KTU is held in the same campus lecture halls used by VT students. Hands-on activities follow each interactive session and an online component continues the interest and excitement after the campus activities have been completed.
Spring 2013 Registration Procedure
• Online enrollment begins at 6 p.m. on December 4, 2012
•450 children will be accepted into the program
•Those accepted will represent a geographically diverse area.
•For enrollment information, please visit http://kidstechuniversity.vbi.vt.edu/
•Registration is on a “first-come, first-served” basis that is open to children satisfying the age restriction, regardless of place of residence or academic achievements. A waiting list will be available after registration is full for a county or for the program.
•In order to keep up with the costs of providing a quality program, there will be a registration fee of $100.00 per child, payable upon registration (no refunds). Scholarships are available. Lunch cards and a KTU t-shirt will be given to all children who attend.
Registration Fee- In order to keep up with the costs of providing a quality program, there will be a registration fee of $100.00 per child, payable upon registration (no refunds). The registration fee must be paid for by check; further directions will be given at the time of enrollment. Scholarships are available. Lunch cards and a KTU t-shirt will be given to all children who attend KTU.
2013 VT KTU Schedule
January 26, 2013 - “No bones about it: How are shells and skeletons formed from crystals?” An interactive session led by Dr. Patricia Dove, Virginia Tech
From beautiful snowflakes to diamonds, crystals are everywhere. Crystals also make up the hard tissues of animals that we know as bones, teeth and shells. We call these ‘biominerals’. In this presentation, I will be talking about the many kinds of biominerals that animals (and plants!) make to serve an amazing variety of purposes. The best known biominerals are our bones that enable us to stand and move around. But did you know that biominerals can also become structures that filter light and food? Act as sensors for sight and shadows? Provide a compass?
We will also talk about fossils and how what they tell us about how animals and plants have made biominerals for more than 500 million years. Geobiologists work as modern- day detectives to study evidence from these fossils to learn how their sizes and shapes have changed through ice ages, meteor impacts, and volcanic eruptions.
Most of our discussion, however, will be about crystals. We will see videos of actual crystals growing from atoms and talk about how they are shaped into beautiful patterns.
February 23, 2013- "The Genetic Code: Is it the piano that’s important, or the music played on it?" An interactive session led by Dr. Victor Raboy, United States Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service in Aberdeen, Idaho
Hard-working scientists have deciphered the entire computer code of life, the complete set of genes called the “genome”, of humans, other animals, plants, fish and bugs. They figured that if they knew the entire genetic code, they would understand pretty much everything about how humans, animals, plants and bugs worked. While deciphering entire genomes has greatly increased what we know about how things biological work, it turns out that just knowing the entire genetic code doesn’t explain everything. Sometimes it hardly explains anything! There are thousands of genes in a genome and each one has an “on-off” switch or a “volume control”. If the genome is the “piano” and the genes are the piano keys, then it is how all the genes are played together, just like a virtuoso’s fingers dancing over the piano keys to make music, that is ultimately important. Scientists are just beginning to understand that it’s not only the genes themselves, but how they are “played”, via a process called “epigenetics”, that can make all the difference. We will have fun learning to understand how epigenetics works, and how we can use this new knowledge to cure disease and make more nutritious vegetables for kids to eat!
March 23, 2013 - “How can my phone make my boat safer?” An interactive session led by Dr. Leigh McCue-Weil, Virginia Tech
These days it seems everyone is carrying around a smart phone. But just how smart is that phone? It can give you directions, recommend a restaurant, even let your parents keep an eye on where you are. In this talk we will take that a step further to see how our phones can help us make boating safer. If you have seen popular crabbing TV shows, you have seen how dangerous commercial fishing can be. We will discuss the ins and outs of writing an app to try to alleviate some of that risk.
April 6, 2013 - “Why do Doctors Need Math to Treat Diabetes?” An interactive session led by Dr. Boris Kovatchev, University of Virginia
When we eat candy, chocolate, ice cream, or cereal, the sugar from these foods enters our bodies and is then “burned” with the help of a hormone called insulin to give us energy to move around. In fact, our brains eat mostly sugar, so without sugar we won’t be able to even think. This is called “metabolism” – the engine that makes us tick. Kids and adults who have diabetes don’t make enough insulin, so they need additional insulin injections to make their bodies work. How much, however, is very important – less insulin or more insulin can cause all kinds of trouble, and can be even deadly. So, doctors need Math to be able to precisely tell how much and when to inject insulin. And when it comes to computers that inject insulin, then the Math becomes even more important and more complicated.
In this talk we’ll learn how Math can help treat diabetes, and even make possible an amazing device – the artificial pancreas – which will one day take care of kids and adults with diabetes safely and automatically.
After the success of KTU in 2009-12, we are excited to announce the 2013 spring semester event at Virginia Tech for kids between the ages of 9 and 12 (on September 30, 2012). KTU is held in the same campus lecture halls used by VT students. Hands-on activities follow each interactive session and an online component continues the interest and excitement after the campus activities have been completed.
Spring 2013 Registration Procedure
• Online enrollment begins at 6 p.m. on December 4, 2012
•450 children will be accepted into the program
•Those accepted will represent a geographically diverse area.
•For enrollment information, please visit http://kidstechuniversity.vbi.vt.edu/
•Registration is on a “first-come, first-served” basis that is open to children satisfying the age restriction, regardless of place of residence or academic achievements. A waiting list will be available after registration is full for a county or for the program.
•In order to keep up with the costs of providing a quality program, there will be a registration fee of $100.00 per child, payable upon registration (no refunds). Scholarships are available. Lunch cards and a KTU t-shirt will be given to all children who attend.
Registration Fee- In order to keep up with the costs of providing a quality program, there will be a registration fee of $100.00 per child, payable upon registration (no refunds). The registration fee must be paid for by check; further directions will be given at the time of enrollment. Scholarships are available. Lunch cards and a KTU t-shirt will be given to all children who attend KTU.
2013 VT KTU Schedule
January 26, 2013 - “No bones about it: How are shells and skeletons formed from crystals?” An interactive session led by Dr. Patricia Dove, Virginia Tech
From beautiful snowflakes to diamonds, crystals are everywhere. Crystals also make up the hard tissues of animals that we know as bones, teeth and shells. We call these ‘biominerals’. In this presentation, I will be talking about the many kinds of biominerals that animals (and plants!) make to serve an amazing variety of purposes. The best known biominerals are our bones that enable us to stand and move around. But did you know that biominerals can also become structures that filter light and food? Act as sensors for sight and shadows? Provide a compass?
We will also talk about fossils and how what they tell us about how animals and plants have made biominerals for more than 500 million years. Geobiologists work as modern- day detectives to study evidence from these fossils to learn how their sizes and shapes have changed through ice ages, meteor impacts, and volcanic eruptions.
Most of our discussion, however, will be about crystals. We will see videos of actual crystals growing from atoms and talk about how they are shaped into beautiful patterns.
February 23, 2013- "The Genetic Code: Is it the piano that’s important, or the music played on it?" An interactive session led by Dr. Victor Raboy, United States Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service in Aberdeen, Idaho
Hard-working scientists have deciphered the entire computer code of life, the complete set of genes called the “genome”, of humans, other animals, plants, fish and bugs. They figured that if they knew the entire genetic code, they would understand pretty much everything about how humans, animals, plants and bugs worked. While deciphering entire genomes has greatly increased what we know about how things biological work, it turns out that just knowing the entire genetic code doesn’t explain everything. Sometimes it hardly explains anything! There are thousands of genes in a genome and each one has an “on-off” switch or a “volume control”. If the genome is the “piano” and the genes are the piano keys, then it is how all the genes are played together, just like a virtuoso’s fingers dancing over the piano keys to make music, that is ultimately important. Scientists are just beginning to understand that it’s not only the genes themselves, but how they are “played”, via a process called “epigenetics”, that can make all the difference. We will have fun learning to understand how epigenetics works, and how we can use this new knowledge to cure disease and make more nutritious vegetables for kids to eat!
March 23, 2013 - “How can my phone make my boat safer?” An interactive session led by Dr. Leigh McCue-Weil, Virginia Tech
These days it seems everyone is carrying around a smart phone. But just how smart is that phone? It can give you directions, recommend a restaurant, even let your parents keep an eye on where you are. In this talk we will take that a step further to see how our phones can help us make boating safer. If you have seen popular crabbing TV shows, you have seen how dangerous commercial fishing can be. We will discuss the ins and outs of writing an app to try to alleviate some of that risk.
April 6, 2013 - “Why do Doctors Need Math to Treat Diabetes?” An interactive session led by Dr. Boris Kovatchev, University of Virginia
When we eat candy, chocolate, ice cream, or cereal, the sugar from these foods enters our bodies and is then “burned” with the help of a hormone called insulin to give us energy to move around. In fact, our brains eat mostly sugar, so without sugar we won’t be able to even think. This is called “metabolism” – the engine that makes us tick. Kids and adults who have diabetes don’t make enough insulin, so they need additional insulin injections to make their bodies work. How much, however, is very important – less insulin or more insulin can cause all kinds of trouble, and can be even deadly. So, doctors need Math to be able to precisely tell how much and when to inject insulin. And when it comes to computers that inject insulin, then the Math becomes even more important and more complicated.
In this talk we’ll learn how Math can help treat diabetes, and even make possible an amazing device – the artificial pancreas – which will one day take care of kids and adults with diabetes safely and automatically.
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
2013 VBI High School Summer Internship- Modeling of Infectious Diseases
Program dates: July 8-12, 2013
Application Deadline: May 3, 2013
Virginia Bioinformatics Institute (VBI) at Virginia Tech offers summer internships to high school students interested in computer science, mathematics, infectious diseases, the environment, and bioinformatics. This week-long program includes research activities and tours, and a discussion/lecture series.
High school students interested in math and science, who are able to provide their own reliable transportation to VBI each morning, are eligible for participation in the program. The main objective of this high school internship is to show students the fun and excitement of scientific research. Students will have the opportunity to explore the world of genomics and the environment with world-renowned research scientists in professional labs.
Dedicated work is key for success in any career, especially one in bioinformatics research. The internship experience will strengthen the principle of dedicated work through intensive laboratory research and journal keeping exercises given throughout the week. A highly motivated attitude is encouraged throughout the program!
Program website- http://highschool.vbi.vt.edu/
This program is funded through the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, administered through the MIDAS Network. Grant number: U01 GM070694-09
Application Deadline: May 3, 2013
Virginia Bioinformatics Institute (VBI) at Virginia Tech offers summer internships to high school students interested in computer science, mathematics, infectious diseases, the environment, and bioinformatics. This week-long program includes research activities and tours, and a discussion/lecture series.
High school students interested in math and science, who are able to provide their own reliable transportation to VBI each morning, are eligible for participation in the program. The main objective of this high school internship is to show students the fun and excitement of scientific research. Students will have the opportunity to explore the world of genomics and the environment with world-renowned research scientists in professional labs.
Dedicated work is key for success in any career, especially one in bioinformatics research. The internship experience will strengthen the principle of dedicated work through intensive laboratory research and journal keeping exercises given throughout the week. A highly motivated attitude is encouraged throughout the program!
Program website- http://highschool.vbi.vt.edu/
This program is funded through the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, administered through the MIDAS Network. Grant number: U01 GM070694-09
Monday, October 15, 2012
Virginia Tech Museum of Geosciences and VT Geology Club GeoFair and Mineral Sale
Sat. Oct. 20th 10 am-5pm
Museum of Geosciences, 2062 Derring Hall
Proceeds support Museum Education and Outreach Programs
Celebrate Earth Science Week!
Events include:
Hands-on activities to learn about the geosciences available throughout the day
~OmniGlobe- interactive visualization
~EmRiver- stream and delta simulation
~Fluorescent Mineral Display
~Gem Identification Station
A variety of affordable mineral specimens to examine and purchase.
Free admission and parking
Sorry, no credit cards: ATM's nearby
Questions- contact the museum at 540-231-4080 or http://www.outreach.geos.vt.edu/
Museum of Geosciences, 2062 Derring Hall
Proceeds support Museum Education and Outreach Programs
Celebrate Earth Science Week!
Events include:
Hands-on activities to learn about the geosciences available throughout the day
~OmniGlobe- interactive visualization
~EmRiver- stream and delta simulation
~Fluorescent Mineral Display
~Gem Identification Station
A variety of affordable mineral specimens to examine and purchase.
Free admission and parking
Sorry, no credit cards: ATM's nearby
Questions- contact the museum at 540-231-4080 or http://www.outreach.geos.vt.edu/
Thursday, October 11, 2012
VSU KTU- this Saturday, Oct. 13th!
"Computer Science in the World: From Toy Brains to Keeping Trees Healthy"
An interactive session led by Dr. Caitlin Kelleher
Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Washington University in St. Louis
One of the coolest things about computer science is that you can use the tools of computing to help solve just about any problem you can find or imagine. In this talk, we'll look at how people teach computers to solve problems. We'll start by delving into the brains of electronic toys and then see how some computer scientists are approaching some of the biggest problems we face as a society.
Dr. Caitlin Kelleher is an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Washington University in St. Louis. Her computer program, “Storytelling Alice,” has been shown to be influential in the teaching of computer programming to young females.
An interactive session led by Dr. Caitlin Kelleher
Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Washington University in St. Louis
One of the coolest things about computer science is that you can use the tools of computing to help solve just about any problem you can find or imagine. In this talk, we'll look at how people teach computers to solve problems. We'll start by delving into the brains of electronic toys and then see how some computer scientists are approaching some of the biggest problems we face as a society.
Dr. Caitlin Kelleher is an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Washington University in St. Louis. Her computer program, “Storytelling Alice,” has been shown to be influential in the teaching of computer programming to young females.
Monday, October 8, 2012
Hokie Bugfest returns to Virginia Tech
Crawl, scamper, or inch your way to the second annual Hokie Bugfest, when kids of all ages can learn about the importance of insects and their relatives in our daily lives. Children and their parents can discover what a 10-inch millipede looks like, stare a tarantula right in its eight eyes, and watch cockroach races.
The Oct. 20, event is free and open to the public; it takes place at The Inn at Virginia Tech.
The many hands-on exhibits and the large collection of insects on display — including blue death-feigning beetles and cave-dwelling whip scorpions that squirt vinegar from their tails — are designed to not only send shivers down spines but also to build an interest in the science of entomology.
“Insects often do more good than harm,” said Mike Weaver, professor of entomology and Virginia Cooperative Extension director of Virginia Tech Pesticide Programs. “Insects play a vital role in the environment; for example, they pollinate crops and decompose waste materials. Entomology helps unlock the secrets of both the insect world and the environment at large.”
The festival is a learning opportunity for children, who can admire a giant bird-eater tarantula, try on beekeepers’ suits, and learn about aquatic insects. Dozens of hands-on exhibits will also give families the opportunity to learn about less-popular arthropods such as bed bugs, cockroaches, stink bugs, mosquitoes, and termites. After visiting eight exhibits, children will receive official junior entomologist certificates.
Jim Alberti’s troupe of performing fleas, the HokieBird, the Hokietron, and robotic insects will also be featured.
Hosted by Virginia 4-H and the Department of Entomology in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the festival celebrates the legacy of William Bradford Alwood, Virginia Tech’s first entomologist and an internationally known scientist. He is credited with laying the foundation for the college and developing the horticulture and pest management disciplines.
The Hokie Bugfest takes place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. A complete list of activities and parking information is available on the Hokie Bugfest website.
The event is held in collaboration with the entomology department’s student-run organization, the W.B. Alwood Society.
Nationally ranked among the top research institutions of its kind, Virginia Tech’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences focuses on the science and business of living systems through learning, discovery, and engagement. The college’s comprehensive curriculum gives more than 3,100 students in a dozen academic departments a balanced education that ranges from food and fiber production to economics to human health. Students learn from the world’s leading agricultural scientists, who bring the latest science and technology into the classroom.
Friday, October 5, 2012
Caine's Arcade, Global Cardboard Challenge!
Virginia Tech Institute for Creativity, Arts, & Technology
Join us for
CAINE'S ARCADE
Global Cardboard Challenge!
Saturday, October 6, 2012
MAKE from 9 AM to 1 PM GAME from 1 PM to 2PM
ICAT STUDIOne 460 Turner Street, NW, Blacksburg, VA
RSVP to pnewbill@vt.edu
Recommended for ages 7 to 107.
An adult must accompany all kids.
FREE, limited to 25 participants + their grownups.
ICAT will supply the boxes and materials, but feel free to bring your own as well.
Also, feel free to MAKE your own cardboard arcade game at home and bring it for GAME time.
Watch the movie that started it all: www.imagination.is
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