If a Zoller School fifth grader named Louis becomes a physicist, he may one day attribute his career to a minor mishap he had in the College's Biology Department.
As a classmate was collecting an electrostatic charge from a Van de Graaff generator-his hair standing on end to the delight of his classmates-Louis leaned in for a closer look. Without warning, a small blue spark leaped to Louis's nose.
Suddenly, Louis understood, perhaps better than anyone in the room, that static electricity tends to dissipate its charge, just as a thundercloud sheds its charge through lightning.
More than seventy youngsters from Schenectady's Zoller and St. John's elementary schools made similar, though less dramatic, discoveries as they toured a dozen demonstration stations under the guidance of thirty Union science majors. Stations included an EKG machine, a volcano, an electromagnet, liquid nitrogen,
a laser, and a roller coaster. All were operated by Union students, many of whom were familiar to the youngsters through their visits to the schools as mentors
The students saw the effects of liquid nitrogen on carnations and balloons, created a “slime” by mixing two liquids, and discovered that black inks actually are composed of many colors.
And they had questions, lots of them: Who invented liquid nitrogen? Does Nancy Kerrigan have angular momentum when she spins? Can I keep this slime? Science Day was initiated by Union students who participate in COMPASS (Corporate Mentoring Program in Schenectady Schools).
“Our students love the kids,” said Professor Jill Salvo, who coordinated Science Day. “But it's hard for our students to find the time to visit the schools. Bringing the students to campus is an ideal way to expose them to science and get them excited.”