2008 Astronaut Ellison Onizuka Science Day

Saturday, January 26, 2008
8:00 am - 3:00 pm
at the University of Hawai'i at Hilo

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Workshops
Registration Form

Schedule
8:00 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Interactive displays available for viewing (UHH Library Lanai)
7:45-9:15 a.m. Registration (UHH Theater Lanai)
9:30-10:30 a.m. Opening general assembly with keynote speaker: Astronaut Barbara Morgan (UHH Theater)
10:45-11:45 a.m. Workshop Session I
11:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Lunch (lunch provided for registered students by American Savings Bank)
12:45-1:45 p.m. Workshop Session II
2:00-3:00 p.m. Closing general assembly, including Fascinating Science Magic Demonstrations by Dale Olive (UHH Theater)

Workshop Descriptions
Click here for a one-page printout of all the workshop descriptions (pdf).

Interactive Workshops to choose from for 4th-12th grade students, parents, and teachers of any grade level:

WORKSHOP 01 Up Close with the Astronaut
Be inspired by an astronaut. Bring your questions of how to live and work in space, and how to become an astronaut. (Session II only.)

WORKSHOP 02 Mystery Planet (Planetary Science)
Tony Leavitt, Aerospace Education Specialist, NASA Ames Research Center
A future step in NASA's examination of distant planets will be a sample return mission, which brings materials back to Earth to study in laboratories here. Examine materials from a simulated sample return. These materials must be categorized, described in detail, and examined to decide their geologic, biologic or technologic origin. What can we discover about the planet these samples come from?

WORKSHOP 03 The Measure of the Solar System
Inge Heyer, Joint Astronomy Centre
Explore our Solar System, find out the components and their relation to each other, as well as examine how the ancient peoples of the Earth did this same investigation all those eons ago.

WORKSHOP 04 What Would Happen if the Sun Disappeared? Temperature and Radiation from the Sun
Dr. Kumiko S. Usuda, Kanako Takao, Dr. Ryuji Suzuki, Subaru Telescope, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan
Learn about the effect of the Sun on our Earth: How much does the Sun heat up air, water, and other things by measuring temperatures of various objects with various types of thermometers.

WORKSHOP 05 Seeing Through Alien Eyes: The Universe in Different Light
Dr. Richard Crowe, Gail Loeffler, 'Imiloa Astronomy Center
Learn how astronomers look at objects in space through filters of different colors, don masks with different colored filters and view objects as if they were "aliens" who might have evolved to see different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum, and simulate how scientists create an infrared map by using representational colors.

WORKSHOP 06 The Incredible Flying Machine
Wendell Thomas, Challenger Center Hawaii/NASA RERC
Are you ready to build the most incredible flying machine to fly Hilo's skies? Learn basic aerodynamics on how an aircraft flies. Build and fly a rubber band powered airplane. Let's fly high with aeronautics!

WORKSHOP 07 Acid Rain and Water Quality
Dr. Ron Takata, Honolulu Community College, Helen Nakamura, retired Hilo High School teacher
Water quality will be tested for pH, hardness, and salinity using Small-Scale Chemistry methodology.

WORKSHOP 08 Alien Invaders: Is Hawaii in Jeopardy?
Shenandoah Marr, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawaii at Manoa
Is Hawaii being attacked by aliens? Learn about some of Hawaii's alien plant and animal invaders, how they got here, what they do, and how you can help prevent them from taking over. Test your knowledge by playing a Jeopardy! like trivia game.

WORKSHOP 09 Supervolcano!
Steve Lundblad, UH-Hilo Geology Club, Dept. of Geology, UH-Hilo
Explore the types of rocks that are produced in volcanic eruptions. Learn why some volcanoes erupt violently and others ooze lava. Model the effects of an exploding volcano.

WORKSHOP 10 Food Safety: Growing your own Non-Circulating Hydroponic Lettuce
Glenn Sako, Dr. Bernard Kratky, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawaii at Manoa
Set up a simple hydroponic system to grow lettuce at home. As the "farmer," you control what is added to the system and can exclude pests safely and produce pesticide-free lettuce that is safer for you and your family.

WORKSHOP 11 Mission Possible: GPS Geocaching
Waimea Middle School Team. Waimea Middle Public Conversion Charter School, NASA Explorer School
Join our team in our latest mission. You will become an expert in using GPS to mark and find strategic locations vital to the mission. In this geocaching experience you will use your technology skills and decoding abilities to save the day.

WORKSHOP 12 You Can Become a Rocket Scientist
Calvin Motoda, Boeing/United Launch Alliance
Learn what it takes to become an aerospace engineer and work to support NASA missions from a real engineer and "rocket scientist" from the Big Island. Have fun as you "make and launch" a cool rocket!

WORKSHOP 13 Solar System Surprise
Peter Michaud, Gemini Telescope
Get ready to be surprised by what you think you know about the Solar System. Using clay and toilet paper in hands-on activities, experience the sizes, distances, and wonders of the planets. Recent discoveries from Mauna Kea will also be presented.

WORKSHOP 14 Discover the Solar System in 3-D
Barbara Higa, Onizuka Space Center
Discover the Solar System in 3D. Learn about NASA missions which are providing us with awesome 3D images of the Solar System and view spectacular 3D images of the Sun, Moon, and Mars. Make and take your own cool 3D glasses.

WORKSHOP 15 Let's Explore Meteorites
Kenyan Beals, Gary Fujihara, Institute for Astronomy
Study meteorite samples and see differences between different types of materials that make up meteors. Discuss some of the different types of rocks here on Earth, in particular, Hawaii.

WORKSHOP 16 Rambling Rovers (a swimmingly fun time)
Cindy Fong, Hilo Intermediate School, Hilo Intermediate and Hilo High School ROV students
Build an underwater remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to pick up colored samples from the shallow lagoon! A fun learning activity and a friendly competition.

WORKSHOP 17 The Cartesian Diver Challenge
Laurel Clay, Kealakehe Intermediate School
Making and testing Cartesian divers is what this workshop is all about. What are they? How do you make 'em? What can they do? How "diver smart" are you? But beware, things might get tricky and a little bit wet!

WORKSHOP 18 Photo Technology for Fun
Lois Sanekane, Pahoa High and Intermediate
Learn some basic digital photography techniques in a hands-on workshop. Learn some of the basic techniques of photography, go out and take a few pictures with different digital cameras, download your pictures, crop and print your creations. Photos can make great gifts, preserve memories, and can add to research projects and presentations for school.

WORKSHOP 19 Sports Medicine Science
Mike Garcia, UHH Athletics Dept.
Interested in the field of medicine? Have you ever considered being an athletic trainer? Come and see all the things that they do to keep our athletes in tiptop condition, including yourself! How can you become one? Come and learn more about this exciting career and witness firsthand the life of a college athletic trainer. (Session I only)

WORKSHOP 20 Geometry to the Moon
Gayle Kamei, Waiakea Intermediate School Botball team
Discover the wonders of geometry as we take a "journey" to the Moon to find out facts about the Earth and Moon. In this session, student participants will receive a Safe-T compass and learn how to use it.

WORKSHOP 21 Wooly Magma Felted Earth
Connie Craig, NOAA (Maui)
It is becoming more and more evident to scientists that they must view Earth as a system of interrelated systems. Learn how NOAA studies how these systems interact and enable us to understand and predict changes in the Earth's environment and to conserve and manage our natural resources. Come and "make" the planet on which you live.

Released: December 4, 2007.