URBAN STEMS: The Science of Food
“URBAN STEMS: the Science of Food” is the 2018 gardening program SELF International has offered at the Bryant Community garden for students from the Boys and Girls Club. Students planted seeds in the early spring and then planted the seedlings when weather permitted. They maintained the gardens all season and explored soil science, nutrition, food science, new recipes for using their produce, and so much more.
Below: These young gardeners in the after school program in the fall enjoyed eating the watermelon they grew while hulling the beans from the garden.
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ABOVE: Summer Students study bacteria and leaves through the microscopes brought to the garden by a University of Minnesota food scientist.
ABOVE: Tomatoes and math? Students count the Sweet 100 tomatoes they have just picked
BELOW: A volunteer from the U of M helps these young students in the spring afterschool program to prepare the soil for planting seeds.
BELOW: On the last day of the summer program, students chopped tomatoes, onions, and cilantro to make salsa for their salsa party in the garden.
LEFT: The food scientists from the U of M helped students explore different types of bacteria. They used bacteria to make yogurt.
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Girls In STEAM
SELF partners with SciGirls, of TPT TV, to engage girls in STEAM. Elementary and middle school aged girls explore cutting edge science using fun, hands-on activities and inquiry based learning methods. They learn scientific process, research techniques, team work, and leadership skills. Mentors from the STEAM industry join them as mentors to introduce girls to real life career options. Female professionals show girls that STEAM has no gender or ethnic boundaries.
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SELF is working with SciGirls under National Science foundation sponsorship to improve best practices in STEAM education. SciGirls CONNECT2: Investigating the Use of Gender Equitable Teaching Strategies in a National STEM Education Network is a 2+ year program designed to look at the impact of the science teaching methods on girls’ confidence, interest, and motivation around STEM subjects, which ultimately affects girls’ choices, behaviors, and perceptions of STEM careers and the likelihood that they will consider STEM professions. SELF’s role in this project is to deliver expanded informal science programs to underserved Twin Cities communities, and collect data on the efficacy of these teaching practices for both boys and girls.
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“STEAM in the City” at the Boys and Girls Club
Girls at Southside Boys and Girls Club have fun making clouds.
Nano Science Summer 2012
NanoDays is a weeklong, annual festival that engages people of all ages in nanoscale science, technology, and engineering. NanoDays events are organized locally by NISE Network partners, like the Science Museum of Minnesota and SELF International, and take place at over 300 museums and universities across the country. NanoDays events include hands-on activities, demonstrations, lectures, puzzles, games, and more!
What is Nano?
At the nanoscale—the scale of atoms and molecules—many common materials exhibit unusual properties. Our ability to manipulate matter at this size enables innovations that weren’t possible before. Nanotechnology is revolutionizing research and development in medicine, computing, new materials, food, energy, and other areas.
At the nanoscale—the scale of atoms and molecules—many common materials exhibit unusual properties. Our ability to manipulate matter at this size enables innovations that weren’t possible before. Nanotechnology is revolutionizing research and development in medicine, computing, new materials, food, energy, and other areas.
Why Nano?
Nano will affect our economy, environment, and our personal lives. Some scientists think that future nanotechnologies and materials could transform our lives as much as cars or the personal computer! But the costs, risks, and benefits can be difficult to understand, both for experts and for the general public. Continued research will reveal better how to implement nanoscience and technology in the future.
Nano will affect our economy, environment, and our personal lives. Some scientists think that future nanotechnologies and materials could transform our lives as much as cars or the personal computer! But the costs, risks, and benefits can be difficult to understand, both for experts and for the general public. Continued research will reveal better how to implement nanoscience and technology in the future.