St. Louis area youngsters and families learned some of the principles of science through practical applications at the Minority Scientist Showcase held January 19-21 at the Saint Louis Science Center.
More than 3,700 visitors participated in demonstrations from 25 organizations, schools and corporations.
In front of one table, youngsters took turns sitting on a barstool-height chair. They tried to hold a moving bicycle wheel steady while a presenter manipulated the wheel’s orientation. Although it appeared as though they were just playing around, the youngsters were able to feel the effect of gyroscopic motion. Without awareness of this force, motorcycle riders would fall off their bikes as they turned corners upright at high speeds. They learn to lean into the turn to become aerodynamic.
“As the wheel spins around the fixed axis, it wants to continue spinning in a straight line. As you try to turn it off the fixed line, you get resistance,” said Paul Anderson, a civil engineer at Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District.
‘That’s why you have to lean into a turn on a bike. If this theory didn’t exist, every time you try to turn the corner, you would fall right off.”
“That’s the only thing that will allow you to lay almost on the ground to make that turn,” said Terry Freeman, from the National Society of Black Engineers.
Some people were not expecting a science lesson from the St. Louis Water Department, which had a detailed display of how clean water makes its way into homes and fire hydrants.
“All of this is what you don’t see – it’s the system every house and business has to go through,” said Ricky Clark, a water maintenance supervisor for the St. Louis Water Division.
He explained how underground pipes, water meters, valves, storm and sewer drains, and vent stacks all work together to serve the needs of customers.
To help crime scene investigators clearly see hidden evidence that cannot be picked up with a magnifying glass, there is Luminol – the superstar chemical that shines a light on unseen blood residue in crime dramas and real-life police work.
At the table of biochemist Latashuia Browning, a project manager at Sigma Aldrich, kids mixed up batches of the glowing concoction to see it for themselves.
“We take Luminol and then we add hydrogen peroxide, then it produces light,” Browning said.
Youngsters could see the bluish light by looking at the mixture when it was covered up to make it dark.
“That reaction doesn’t last that long,” Browning added. “But the two chemicals in the glow stick create cool light (that does not emit heat), and it lasts much longer.”
Chemiluminescence is the reason fireflies produce light.
“They have an enzyme called luciferase in their abdomen. When it reacts to oxygen, it lights up,” Browning explained. “They really light up all the time – we only usually see it at night,” she said.
On the first day of the weekend event, Browning had more than 200 visitors to her table.
She said, “What I like about the Minority Science Showcase is that it gives young people an opportunity to see African Americans and people of color working in the sciences and gives them something to aspire to.”
The Blacks in Science Forum will be held February 23 from 10 a.m. – noon at the St. Louis Science Center, featuring Dr. Sam Waters, professor of Life Sciences at University of Missouri and Rod Nunn, state director of education and workforce innovation. The 2008 Blacks in Science Awards Dinner will be held from 6 – 9 p.m. in May Hall at the SLSC. For more information, contact lpeters@slsc.org.