SFU Hosts 22nd Annual Science Day

SFU+Hosts+22nd+Annual+Science+Day

More than 500 students and 49 teachers from 31 area high schools participated in the 22nd annual Science Day held at SFU on Nov. 24.  Science Day is coordinated by the University’s School of Sciences and Science Outreach Center.

The students attended presentations by Saint Francis faculty, students and science industry professionals.  Sessions included:

“Fireworks, Projectiles and Rainbows: What Chemists do for Fun” by Pedro Muino, professor of chemistry;
“Design your Own Ideas with a 3D Printer” by Dan Wetklow, professor of computer science;
“Hypnotherapy as a Therapeutic Tool” by Mark Lynch, professor of social work;
“Walking in Their Shoes: Life as a Senior Adult” by Olivia Pethtel, assistant professor of psychology.

This year also featured a special presentation by Brian Sell, a Northern Bedford High School and SFU graduate who finished 22nd in the marathon at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

Sell, who is now employed as a quality control scientist at GSK (GlaxoSmithKline) Pharmaceutical Company, explained how he continues to use his degrees in biology and biotechnology to develop his career in protein production and testing.

Sixteen schools competed in a single-elimination “Science Bowl.”  Dubois Area High School won the competition with a 145-140 win over Hollidaysburg Area High School.

The annual event included several other competitions, including the “Science Day Top Ten List” – the list is generated by the visiting high school students and judged by SFU science students.  The winning entries completed the phrase “You know you are a scientist if your SnapChat story shows:

  1. “your best Anas A. platyrhynchos (duck) face.” – MacKenzie Zelenski, Bishop McCort Catholic High School
  2. “your 6-person squad Halloween costume – water, light, carbon dioxide, glucose, oxygen, and energy forming a photosynthesis reaction.” – Alyce Palko, Penn Cambria High School
  3. “your selfie on a roller coaster.” – Rachel Bauer, St. Mary’s High School
  4. “something Ironic.” – Lindsey Monito, Central Cambria High School
  5. “a selfie with the note pad that says ‘Science Day’” – Taylor Weiland, Northern Cambria High School
  6. “a video of you using a molecular model kit to build an atom of ibuprofen when your friend has a headache.” – Zach Delaney, Penn Cambria High School
  7. “lab goggle selfies.” – Gabby Shaulis, Forest Hills High School
  8. “you with your lab rat friends – the actual lab rats.” – Jen Roxby, Forest Hills High School
  9. “Bill Nye the science guy doing the Whip and Nae Nae.” – Alyssa Weidlich, Altoona Area High School
  10. “a Lego double helix” – Andrew Regan, Central Cambria High School

In another contest, students from each school searched for clues posted around campus and then worked together to assemble all the clues into a sequence that simulated DNA code.  Bishop Carroll Catholic High School won the competition by using the code to unscramble a quote by Carl Sagan: “Science is a way of thinking much more than it is a body of knowledge.”

From Staff Reports and Saint Francis Office of Marketing and Public Relations.