RSC Presents: Temple Grandin, Science Tuesday, Science Cafe, Studio i Makerspace, Youth Programs, & More!


Rockville Science Center Newsletter
October  2018
The Center at a Glance

Details for these activities are in this newsletter!

EVENT
DATE
TIME
Science Tuesday 
at the Rockville Senior Center

Tuesday, October 9
1 PM to 2 PM

Celebrating Women in STEMM 
Universities at Shady Grove

Tuesday, October 9 3 PM to 6 PM
Science Café 
At the Crossroads BBQ & Grill with Dr. Kimberly Jacoby-Morris

October 16 7 PM to 8 PM


Young Adult Science Cafe
Universities at Shady Grove
Thursday, October 18 6 PM to 7 PM
October Explorations! 
National Inventors Hall of Fame and Museum

Friday, October 26 10 AM to 11 AM
November Explorations!
Outbreak: Epidemics in a Connected World. At the Ntional Museum of Natural History 

Friday, November 16 10 AM to 11 AM
Always Check out the Studio i Makerspace 
Meetup for special activities/classes

Explorer Post meetings

Every Wednesday
6 PM to 9 PM








Thank all for you who supported our  
Temple Grandin event!


Understanding Animal Behavior and Autism
A talk by Dr. Temple Grandin
Music Center at Strathmore

On September 7, Dr. Grandin spoke about "Understanding Animal Behavior and Autism,"at the Music Center at Strathmore.  A big thanks to our sponsors, Foundation for Biomedical Research, Miller, Miller & Canby, the City of Rockville, Westat, The Treatment and Learning Centers, Rockville Economic Development Corp., Eaglebank, the Kennedy Krieger Institute, Emergent Biosolutions, and the Universities at Shady Grove.
-- 
Melissa Scales, Trustee. 

Jumbotron with title screen.

Dr. Jaap Venema introducing Dr.Temple Grandin. 

Taking questions from the audience.
 

A full house. 


Leah Brown, Temple Grandin and Gotthard Szabo

Trustees Bob Ekman and Gotthard Sazabo.
Trustee Melissa Scales

The Attendance was over 1000 at Dr, Temple Grandin's presentation at Srathmore. This animal professor from Colorado State University was fascinating. If you missed it, read one of her many books, Calling All Minds being my current favorite. And you can also view her TED talk. At a small breakfast the following morning we were treated to an explanation of a word I occasionally hear that stands for Store High In Transit. I will explain if you ask.
--
Ruth Hanessian, Trustee 


Ruth Hanessian with Temple Grandin and as the "Voice of God", providing announcements for the  theater.

A Home for the Rockville Science Center
A Permanent Location for the RSC?

The Rockville Science Center Board of Trustees and the City of Rockville are presently engaged in discussions with the owners of property located at 41 Maryland Avenue (southwest corner of Maryland Ave. and E. Middle Lane) to design, develop and construct a build-to-suit science center facility that will serve as the long-term permanent home of the Rockville Science Center.


                     
Studio i Makerspace

A makerspace is a community center with tools and materials where anyone can come to learn, collaborate, and make things. The RSC Makerspace activities include: Robotics, Drones R/C groups, Rocketry, Amateur Radio, Microcontrollers, Programming, High Altitude Ballooning, Neuroscience, Neural Networks and AI, and much more . Check us out!

Tools and materials include: 3D printers, CNC Carving and Cutting, Soldering, and PC design tools. Most events are free. Children 10 years old and younger must be accompanied by an adult.

Location:
Rockville Memorial Public Library, 2nd Floor, 21 Maryland Ave, Rockville, MD 20850

Standard Operation Times through September:

Monday
Tuesday
Wed
Thursday
Friday
Saturday / Sunday
10 AM 
to 
1 PM
6 PM
to
9 PM
6 PM
to
9 PM
7 PM
to
9 PM
10 AM
to
1 PM
*10 AM to1 PM
* 1 PM to 5 PM

*Saturday and Sunday alternate

Calendar:
Check out all our activities on the Studio i Makerspace Meetup Group

______________________________________________________________





Join Us In October

3D Design CAD (Fusion360 & TinkerCad) and both 3D printing Basics and Advanced subjects, CoderDojo programming, Moco Maker topics, Drones/RC, AI and Neural Networks... Look for a special hardware construction meeting with Capital BioSpace. There are weekly Arduino Project Meetings and open time workshops. Projects include 3D prints and Shopbot use for computer controlled cutting and carving.

Arduino weekly  projects: Adults and teens meet every week to work with Arduinos, breadboard, LEDs and sensors.  Come work on group projects or develop your own long term projects.


Coder Dojo (ages 7-17) is a popular semiweekly programming language self development forum. This is a low-pressure, learn at your own pace, venue. Share ideas, and learn with peers, invited speakers, and under the guidance of expert adult mentors.

The MoCo Makers Thursday night series continued its wonderful topics and talks in August which included: FPGA technologies, using LEDs for light communication, and other unique projects.

October Science Tuesday
Lets do Lunch
Date:  Tuesday, October 9, 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Event: Rockville Science Center, Science Tuesday
Where: Rockville Senior Center, 1150 Carnation Dr, Rockville, MD 20850
Speaker: Dr. Steve Parks
Topic: Let's do lunch.
_____________________________________________________

Dr. Parks is a retired physicist and a lifelong naturalist, a member of the Maryland Native Plant Society and an avid Weed Warrior.  As part of the naturalist community in Montgomery County, he has followed the ups and downs of the deer population.  As a homeowner, he has discovered the delight of having fawns in the backyard, and the frustration of tulips munched to ground level.  As a gourmand, he finds venison delicious.

This talk explores how grazing animals affect the plants they eat, and how those plants affect the animals.  These interactions sometimes last for minutes, sometimes days, and sometimes for millions of years.  New insights give us better ways to manage deer and their habitats. 

______________________________________________________

Rockville Science Center Science Tuesday programs are run in partnership with the City of Rockville. Science Tuesdays meets on the second Tuesday of the month from 1:00 to 2:00pm at the Rockville Senior Center. Science Tuesdays feature a speaker with a science background giving a presentation and answering questions afterwards. Events are free to attend.

Join us at the Universities at Shady Grove

Celebrating Women in STEMM
_____________________________________________

A mini-symposium focusing on education and career
pathways for women in STEMM.
 A panel, networking session, and more

October 9, 2018
3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Universities at Shady Grove

9630 Gudelsky Dr, Rockville, MD 20850
BLDG II - Building II, Multi-Purpose Room (MPR)


October Science Café
Contributions and Relevance of Fluorescent Proteins
___________________________________________________________________

Date: Tuesday, October 16, 7 PM to 8 PM
Event: Rockville Science  Café 
Where: Crossroads BBQ & Grill, 387 E Gude Dr, Rockville, MD 20850
Speaker: Dr. Kimberly Jacoby-Morris
Topic: Contributions and Relevance of Fluorescent Proteins



Kimberly Jacoby-Morris is a postdoctoral fellow at NIH in the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering Biophotonics laboratory of Dr. George H. Patterson. Her current projects focus on developing fluorescent proteins for imaging technologies. Prior to her arrival at NIH, Kim was an interim organic chemistry laboratory lecturer at Bryn Mawr College, in Pennsylvania. She was awarded her PhD from Temple University for her contributions in understanding the chemical mechanisms of UV-damaged DNA repair. 


Dr. Jacoby-Morris's presentation will focus on the contributions and relevance of
fluorescent  proteins and their contributions to the field of biomedicine. She will present a brief history of the discovery and engineering of fluorescent proteins, describe how we use fluorescent proteins in medical imaging and therapeutics and she will discuss future applications of fluorescent proteins. 

____________________________________________________________________

The  Rockville Science  Center Scienc e Cafés  are free and open to everyone. They feature a scientist engaging and leading discussions to encourage conversation, debate, and interaction. T he  Crossroads BBQ & Grill  serves BBQ, vegetarian dishes, and salads. Arrive early for a table, table, and drink. .

Young Adult Science Cafe

My Life in Cancer Research: An Unexpected Journey
_____________________________________________

Date : Thursday, October 18, 6 PM to 7 PM
Event:  Young Adult Science Café 
Where:  9630 Gudelsky Dr, Rockville, MD 20850, Bld 3 III-4225
Speaker:  Dr. David Wei

Dr. David Wei is a Cancer Research Training Award (CRTA) postdoctoral fellow at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) with over 10 years of research experience. His current work is focused on identifying novel treatments for a subset of renal cell carcinomas with mutations in epigenetic genes. David has a Ph.D. in Toxicology from UNC Chapel Hill and dual bachelor degrees in Molecular Cell Biology and Molecular Toxicology from UC Berkeley.

Dr. Wei will be discussing his background, his undergraduate experience as a "Golden Bear", his postdoc experience, and his thoughts on "If I knew then what I know now.


_____________________________________________________________

Young Adult Science Cafes are career-oriented presentations by STEM professionals and leaders. YA Cafes are open to middle school, high school, and college students. Middle school students are encouraged to attend and must be accompanied by an adult. Events are free and open to the public unless otherwise indicated.

The program is supported by the Rockville Science Center, the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and the Universities at Shady Grove.  


October Explorations! Field Trip



Explorations!
Field Trip  to the  
National Inventors Hall of Fame 
___________________________________________________

Date:  Friday, October 26, 10 PM to 11PM
Address:  600 Dulany Street,  Alexandria, VA 22314 ( Located in the USPTO Madison Building)
Rockville Sciece Center Contact: Howard Lichtman, 301.580.7190


This is a members-only event. 



Explorations! Field Trips  offer Rockville Science Center members the chance to take a more in-depth look at the science or technology at work in a particular outdoor location or science/technology-related organization in the Rockville-DC area, and to meet and enjoy the company of other RSC members. Unless specified otherwise, our Explorations Field Trips are open to adults and kids aged 10 and older, with an accompanying adult required for those under 18. 

This month we are at the The National Inventors Hall of Fame. The Museum showcases the more than 500 inventors who have been inducted into NIHF and their great technological achievements that helped stimulate growth for our nation and beyond. NIHF inspires the next generation of innovators by connecting them through the story of invention.  The interactive gallery of icons allows you to discover how these innovators have shaped the world around us. The most recent inductees are featured in a special display where you can see prototypes of their inventions and hear them discuss their inventive processes. 

Directions b y Metro: 
  • The museum is in the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
  • Take the yellow or blue line to the King Street station in Alexandria
  • Follow the pedestrian tunnel under Duke Street
  • The USPTO Headquarters will be in front of you
  • The Madison East and Madison West Buildings are located on Dulany Street, about 2.5 blocks from the Duke. Street pedestrian tunnel; you can identify them by the central glass atrium that joins the East and West buildings.

Step inside a one-of-a-kind 1965/2015 Ford Mustang and see how 50 years of technological innovations have changed the way we interact with our cars. Credit: Jay Premack/USPTO

Our November 16th  Explorations will be to Outbreak: Epidemics in a connected World, at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. Look for more information in our November Newsletter.  
Youth Program Report



Explorer Post 1010


Explorer Post 1010  is a great group of high school students with interests in computers, robotics, rockets, drones, and engineering. The Post is sponsored by the Rockville Science Center. 

Meetings are at  Johns Hopkins University, in  Rockville Maryland, on Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings throughout the school year. Members of the Post are gaining experience designing and building engineering projects as they explore engineering as a career. Check out our website at  http://post1010.org.

For  additional  information about Explorer Post 1010, FIRST LEGO League, or our other youth programs contact  info@post1010.org

October Update

The Explorer Post has completed its annual recruitment. The Post now has 9 new 9th and 10th grade students. We had 22 high school students renew their registration and have recruited a few new adult advisers.  This is Explorer Post 1010's 21st year in providing interested high school students with opportunities to participate in real engineering projects.

The FIRST Tech Challenge  robotics team,  Team America Rocketry Challenge team , Botball e ducational robotics team , and USA4STEM unmanned Aircraft Systems team  are well on their way to developing this year's engineering projects. 





Drone Team
First Tech Challenge Team
____________________________________________

FIRST LEGO League (FLL)
Contact us for information on our First Lego League teams.

The Rockville Science Center will be hosting two FIRST LEGO League (FLL) robotics tournaments at The Universities at Shady Grove. FLL engages students 9 to 14 years old in building, programming and testing LEGO Mindstorms robots to complete several autonomous missions. 

This year's theme is  Into Orbit. The events are Saturday, January 5 and Saturday, January 12. The teams need to be at the event by 8 am but the public is not invited until noon. We are planning for 24 teams at each contest. Later this fall, we will start gathering volunteers to help run the events.
Volunteer Opportunities at the
Rockville Science Center

We have many volunteer opportunities coming up as our busy season approaches. Volunteering at the RSC gives students an opportunity to earn SSL hours and adults to participate in our outreach to the community. 

To volunteer: contact Howard at hlichtman@rockvillesciencecenter.org.

Help us with a bit of Rockville History
 
We are looking for some items of historical significance or memorabilia related to Science from the  city of Rockville or Montgomery County to display in our office. The items must be small enough to fit in a a display cabinet. For example, company patches, company give-aways, small scientific instruments, news articles, and photos. You can donate these items to us or loan them to us for a specified period of time. 


Please contact Howard Lichtman at
hlichtman@rockvillesciencecenter.org. 


Read About Our Previous Month's Activities

September Science Tuesday
My Approach to Science
___________________________________________________________________

Dr. Ruth McDiarmid joined us for our September Science Tuesday. Dr. McDiarmid has a BA in Zoology from Cornell, a MA from Radcliffe College and a  Ph.D. from Harvard, both in biochemistry.

Dr. McDiarmid had some monumental obstacles to overcome to achieve the status she deserved. Since retiring she has traveled the world and explored many interesting endeavors. 

September Super Science Café




Understanding Animal Behavior and Autism
A talk by Dr. Temple Grandin
Music Center at Strathmore

Rockville Science Café meets on the 3rd Tuesday of the month except for Sept 2018 when we had a Super Science Café at Strathmore with Dr. Temple Grandin's presentation on Understanding Animal Behavior and Autism. If you missed it please go back and enjoy it now. 

KidFest

The Rockville Science Center
at 
KidFest

The Rockville Science Café participated in this annual the celebration of creativity and innovaton sponsored by Kid Museum. Even with a soaking rain there were thousands of of kids (and their parents) at the event. 

Participants at this STEM and "Maker" fair worked on all kinds of hands-on activities like driving robots through mazes, 3D printing, wind chime making, and so much more!  Festival attendees met an advanced robotic seal that responds to voice and touch, used wildflowers to create paints, explored an on-site inflatable planetarium, built electronic circuits, modified codes, and played handcrafted musical instruments.

Thanks go out to all the Rockville Science Center Volunteers who helped make our STEM Kiosk a success. This includes youth from Explorer Post 1010, who ran a unmanned flight simulator and rocket launch simulator, Abdel, our Maker Space Coordinator who ran a DNA Sequencing simulator, and Oran and Susan Lichtman, who operated the human body voltage potential demonstration. RSC President, Bob Ekman, and Program Coordinator, Howard, were there to spread the word about the our programs. 





DNA sequencer simulator.
Rocket demonstration.

The Rockville Science Center Kiosk.

Our rocketry design tool.

Become a Member of the  Rockville Science Center!


THANK YOU

Rockville Science Center Platinum & Gold Sponsors:
U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention 
Johns Hopkins University Montgomery County Campus
Hitachi Consulting

Rockville Science Center Bronze Sponsors:
Emergent BioSolutions
IBM


Rockville Science Center | www.rockvillesciencecenter.org 
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