Minnesota Academy of Science January Newsletter
MAS Launches Educator's Hub | Science Fair & JSHS Judge and Volunteer Registration Open | Interview with Alex Berg, Science Bowl Scoring Administrator | Undergraduate STEM Research during the Pandemic | MAS Welcomes Four New Board Members | New STEM from Home Resources | STEM Story Corner Updates | MN STEM Spotlight: First Saturday Science | Minnesota STEM News & Events
MAS Launches Educator's Hub
Our new educator's hub is a one-stop shop featuring MAS offerings for Minnesota STEM teachers. Visit the hub to learn about MAS programs and events for Minnesota students. You can also access numerous digital supports MAS staff have developed for exposing and guiding students in Science Fair, including:
Our Student Science Journal for middle school students, a 42-page, step-by-step workbook that can be printed or filled in digitally
Our Getting Started with Science Fair guide for students
Our example Science Fair video project page, complete with a teacher's guide and companion worksheet
Our guide to conducting Science Fair research at home
Science Fair & JSHS Judge and Volunteer Registration Open
MAS is seeking judges and volunteers for the 2021 Minnesota State Science & Engineering Fair (MSSEF) and the North Central Regional Junior Science & Humanities Symposium (JSHS). This school year has been challenging, yet our Minnesotan students have put commendable effort into their STEM research. The MSSEF and JSHS will showcase Minnesota’s best and brightest young scientists, and we need your help to make it happen. Our 2021 events take place 100% virtually to ensure the safety of our students and volunteers, utilizing the zFairs event platform. Judges are needed from March 23-28.
Alex Berg, Science Bowl Scoring Administrator
Alex hard at work during the 2021 High School Science Bowl
As the Science Bowl Scoring Administrator, Alex Berg is tasked with compiling scores from each round to determine top schools. This year’s virtual high school and middle school competitions will differ in many ways from the past. However, Alex believes Science Bowl will be an important venue for social-distancing students to engage with both STEM and their peers, stating “even though everyone will be separated further physically, I think, somewhat ironically, that the game will actually be more collaborative this year because of how the team members can communicate with each other during both the toss-ups and bonus questions. It will still be an exciting time for everyone even though we can't see each other in person this year.” Read more from Alex.
MAS Welcomes Four New Board Members
We are very excited to announce our 2021 cohort of new Board of Directors members! “I look forward to working with this new class of Board members,” says Lara Maupin, MAS Executive Director. “Each brings a wealth of knowledge about the importance and impact of STEM education that will benefit MAS as we work to open doors to STEM for Minnesotans of all backgrounds.” MAS’ four new Board of Directors members represent the breadth of Minnesota’s STEM community:
Lifeng Dong, Department Chair and Malmstrom Endowed Chair in Physics at Hamline University
Sarah Grazul, Project Engineer for 3M
Jeff Lande, Senior Principal Statistician for Medtronic
Cynthia Ward-Thompson, Program Specialist in the Equity and Opportunity Division for the Minnesota Department of Education
New STEM from Home Resources
Have you ever wondered what species of North American owl you're most similar to? Find out with this fun quiz from the International Owl Center in Houston, Minnesota.
Embark on an adventure with Long Lake View - virtual, nature-based learning experiences ranging from survival lessons to snakes from the Long Lake Conservation Center.
Learn about some of the women who have shaped the Twin Cities Mississippi River corridor with an interactive story map from the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area.
Celebrate Minnesota's giant arbors by meeting the fifty state champion trees in the DNR's Minnesota Big Tree Registry.
Undergraduate STEM Research during the Pandemic
As an element of our April 2021 Winchell Undergraduate Research Symposium, our new Winchell Blog focuses on resources to keep college students engaged in STEM research during virtual learning. Watch videos of Dr. Cynthia Norton of St. Catherine University and Dr. Jessica Bell of Century College sharing how they guide student research online, and read tips for success in remote student research. Add your voice to the mix - share your accomplishments and challenges in the blog posts' comments sections!
STEM Story Corner Updates
We've updated and added to our popular STEM story corner page, including a few new stories about *snow and winter*! This page is our collection of high-quality STEM video read-a-longs for preschool and elementary educators and parents to use during distance learning, focusing on STEM in Minnesota and diversity in STEM. We have over 20 links (and growing) to picture book videos about inventors, ecology, astronomy, medicine, coding and more.
MN STEM Spotlight: First Saturday Science
First Science Saturday has moved online for winter and spring of 2021, which means folks from around the state can participate in this kids' exploration of science! Upcoming editions of this program from Metropolitan State University will feature videos and activities focused on themes including: entomology, sustainability, hydrology and botany. Contact the program to learn more and receive updates.
Engineering: St. Anthony Falls Laboratory researchers study the use of permeable pavement to reduce the quantity of salt applied to roads.
Chemistry: UMN-Twin Cities professor George Barany is elected a 2020 Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors.
Invasive Species: Spiny water flea research at the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center featured in National Geographic.
Computer Science: Code.org study ranks Minnesota last in the nation in percent of high schools teaching computer science.
Ecology: Study co-led by researchers at the UMN-Twin Cities' Institute on the Environment summarizes risks to humans resulting from ongoing environmental degradation.
Restoration Science: The North Shore Forest Collaborative works with the Nature Conservancy to restore conifers along Lake Superior.
Engineering: Team from the UMN-Twin Cities develops concept for direct conversion of heat to electricity using ferroelectric oxide crystals.
Climate Change: The State of Minnesota's Resiliency & Adaptation Action Team seeks information via a survey on how high quality climate change data would benefit the work of Minnesota researchers.
Public Health: UMN-Twin Cities researchers begin antibody study of essential grocery store workers to help trace community spread of COVID-19.
Natural Resources: Friends of Sax-Zim Bog, the US Forest Service and the Natural Resources Research Institute team up to develop and install a wetland boardwalk using innovative thermally modified wood.
Chemistry: Chemists at the UMN-Twin Cities create a new polymer to deliver DNA and RNA-based therapies for diseases.
Ecology: Minnesota-based Indigenous scholars propose methodologies to bring native perspectives into environmental science.
Astrophysics: Team including UMN-Twin Cities scientists make important advances in characterizing the inside of neutron stars.
Birds for Beginners Online, Three Rivers Park District, January 16
Raptors up Close, Lowry Nature Center, January 17
How to Add More "Carbon" to your Vocabulary, Sustainable Forests Education Cooperative, January 19
Climate Adaptation Conference, Minnesota Climate Adaptation Partnership, January 20
Teaching Phenology to Elementary Students, Teach Outdoors Minnesota, January 20
Minnesota’s Natural Heritage Virtual Book Launch, Bell Museum, January 21
Climate Change, Ney Nature Center, January 21
Tour the Conservatory of Biological Sciences, Minnesota State Horticulture Society, January 22
Game Night: Minnesota's Mushrooms, Mississippi Park Connection, January 28
Trailside Tracks and Animal Sign, Friends of the Sax-Zim Bog, January 28
Conversation on Climate Science, Policy and Justice, The Great Northern Festival, January 28
Amphibians and Reptiles of Minnesota Online Class, Three Rivers Park District, January 30
Long-eared Owls, International Owl Center, January 31
Food and Agriculture Solutions, The Great Northern Festival, February 1
The New Energy Economy, The Great Northern Festival, February 2
Future Streets, The Great Northern Festival, February 3
Whose Stars Do You See?, Osprey Wilds Environmental Learning Center, February 3
Climate Justice, The Great Northern Festival, February 4
Entomology First Science Saturday, Metro State University, February 6
Plant Hydraulic Traits Influencing Grasslands, Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve, February 9
St. Louis River Estuary Critters, Friends of Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve, February 10
Citizen Science and Research in the Sax-Zim Bog, Friends of the Sax-Zim Bog, February 11
The Dawn of the Dinosaurs, Minnesota Geological Society, February 15
Ash Management Guidelines: A DNR Policy Update, Sustainable Forests Education Cooperative, February 16
Composting, River Bend Nature Center, February 17
Illuminate The Lock: Madweyaashkaa, Mississippi Park Connection, February 18-20
Virtual Mars Star Party, Bell Museum, February 19
