RMSC News Newsletter of the Regional Math/Science Center Frostburg State University FALL 2017 About the RMSC New RMSC Participants RMSC Refunded! The RMSC is excited to announce that it has been Twenty-two students were accepted into the RMSC for the awarded another 5-year U.S. Department of 2017 summer program and the 2017-18 academic year Education grant to serve 70 students in our target The Regional Math/Science Center program. Congratulations to these students and many area every year. Of the 638 proposals submitted (RMSC) is funded by the U.S. thanks to parents, guidance counselors, teachers, from around the country, only 147 were selected Department of Education. It is an principals, and community members for assisting these for funding. We recognize that it is the hard work Upward Bound Math and Science students with their applications and for providing and determination of our current and former (UBMS) program with a primary recommendations. participants that have led to our long-lasting goal of providing academic success. Since 1993, at least 349 of our 398 HS support to high school students Baltimore City graduates have enrolled in post-secondary education (87%) and 269 of these students have who come from families where • Laura Ochieng- Waverly MS/Baltimore City College HS either earned Bachelor’s degrees or are currently financial resources are limited and • Ayana Jackson- Mt. Royal MS/Baltimore Polytechnic Inst. enrolled (77%). Nationally the college-going rate • Aniya Wade- Cristo Rey Jesuit HS parents do not have college is only 68% and the degree attainment rate for a • Nijah Fleet- Mercy HS degrees. The RMSC works to help population similar to RMSC graduates is less than •Mikerria Melvin- Mercy HS these students develop to their full 40%. Additionally, we have at least 29 RMSC •Amari Page-Botengma- National Academy Foundation HS potential and prepare for success alumni who have earned or are pursuing advanced in college math and science Frederick County degrees. Keep up the good work! programs. • Asia Heffner- Brunswick MS/HS Thank you for your support! • LeVar Smallwood- Brunswick MS/HS We like to acknowledge the continued backing of Our residential summer • Jude Salisbury- West Frederick MS /Frederick HS Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, component takes place on the • Rachel Adeoye- Gov. Thomas Johnson HS Representatives Elijah Cummings, John Delaney, campus of Frostburg State • Audrey Badjouen- Gov. Thomas Johnson HS Jamie Raskin, Dutch Ruppersberger III, and John University (FSU). Opportunities • Emmanuella Boue- Gov. Thomas Johnson HS Sarbanes. Our students would not be afforded this include a challenging summer • Kitana Connors- Gov. Thomas Johnson MS/HS educational opportunity if it were not for their academic program with a focus on • Gissel Cuestas- Gov. Thomas Johnson HS support on Capitol Hill. hands-on science research • Jo Lyner- Gov. Thomas Johnson MS/HS projects, career exploration • Lenzy Mondo- Gov. Thomas Johnson HS In addition, we like to thank our school superintendents, teachers, guidance counselors, • Elizabeth Pena Cardenas- Gov. Thomas Johnson MS/HS workshops and educational field and community members who recommend • Angel Stouter-Workman- Gov. Thomas Johnson HS trips. students to our program and provide assistance • Axel Weingard- Gov. Thomas Johnson MS/Oakdale HS throughout the year; and the FSU Biology, • Damian Qualls- Crestwood MS/Tuscarora HS During the academic year, the Chemistry, and Physics and Engineering faculty RMSC provides academic support Washington County and staff for their continued cooperation, and monitors students’ progress. assistance, and advice as RMSC students and staff • Joshua Brooks-W. Heights MS/North Hagerstown HS The program also provides design and conduct their summer research. • Zachary Brooks-W. Heights MS/North Hagerstown HS educational trips and college visits for students throughout the year. We also greatly appreciate the FSU administration, and the dining services, facilities, housekeeping, ID The beginning researchers services, and events staff as they work to ensure our students have positive educational summer project group who studied experiences every year. behaviors of fruit flies. Thank you for helping us nurture the development of these young scientists and mathematicians. Summer Research Projects This summer the RMSC introduced a three-tiered approach to preparing students for the challenges of a college science program. Our Beginning Researchers, primarily rising 9th graders, were introduced to scientific investigations via a study of fruit fly orientation behaviors. Students conducted a series of laboratory experiments in which they learned to develop testable hypotheses based on background knowledge and then follow a prescribed method to test their hypotheses. Emphasis was placed on drawing conclusions based on a critical analysis of the collected data and writing detailed and thorough responses to discussion questions. The Beginning Research program is designed to introduce students to scientific investigations and how to present study findings in both oral and written form. On the final day of their 2-week program, students presented their findings to an audience of parents and RMSC students and staff. While our Beginning Researchers are provided a template for their hypothesis development and scientific investigation, our Intermediate Researchers are not. Instead, these three-week students begin the summer with a brief, introductory experiment and are asked to develop a series of questions based on the results of this experiment. These questions then provide a foundation for their background research. This summer, students were introduced to isopods in their initial experiment and developed questions that led to investigations regarding millipede behaviors in the presence of decaying food, and millipede preference for terrain. At the end of their 3-week program students presented their studies via poster presentations. Like our Intermediate Researchers, our five-week Advanced Researchers begin the summer with introductory experiments that sparks interest in various topics. This summer, one group began by using only previously acquired knowledge to create and test cardboard gliders. The students qualitatively compared the results of the various designs and questioned which features influence glider performance: fuselage shape and weight, wind design and position, and tail design and position. The students then conducted background research in aerodynamics and glider designs and applied the new knowledge to their individual gliders. Students used an AutoCAD program and a 3D printer to construct their gliders. The gliders were tested using protocol developed by the students. The results and conclusions were presented via poster presentations to university faculty and staff, public officials, parents, school personnel, and RMSC staff. Our second Advanced Research project group conducted investigations into how well organic and inorganic substances inhibit bacterial growth. Students began by observing culture plates containing bacteria exposed to various compounds. This introduction led students to research concepts in microbiology, specifically how different bacteria spread and how certain compounds may reduce the spread of bacteria. Our researchers became curious about whether organic or inorganic compounds are better at inhibiting bacterial growth and developed a study to test this question. They exposed three different bacteria typically found on humans to organic compounds such as bleach and hand sanitizer and inorganic compounds like tea tree oil and aloe, and measured the resulting inhibition zone (area in which bacteria did not grow). Their findings were also presented in our final day poster presentation. Audience members were able to interact with our researchers and then evaluate each poster presentation and provide feedback to the students. Poster presentations are typically used in academic and professional conferences as they provide the researchers opportunities to actively engage with audience members regarding the research project. This format was well received by students and audience members alike. Summer Field Trips RMSC students work very hard in their academic classes and science research teams throughout the week and as a reward they enjoy fieldtrips on weekends. This summer all students traveled to Pittsburgh, PA for a day at the Carnegie Science Center. Here they explored multiple floors of interactive exhibits including the all new BodyWorks for discovering how the human body works, and roboworld®, the world’s largest permanent robotics exhibit. This trip was followed by a relaxing Sunday at the Frostburg City Pool. During the second weekend, 3- and 5-week students were guided through the National Historic Park and surrounding battlefields of Harpers Ferry, WV and then toured the John Brown Wax Museum and other historic buildings. A few adventurous students explored the park’s hiking trails to take in the natural beauty of this area. On Sunday, while at Dan’s Mountain State Park, some students went fishing in the park’s pond and others went swimming in the outdoor pool. Our final weekend fieldtrips included an outing to the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium and adventurous day at Seven Spring Mountain Resort where students rode chair lifts, paddle boats, hydro bikes, and paddleboards, coasted down the alpine slide, climbed the alpine tower and rock wall, slid down the summer tubing mountain, competed