Tag Archives: The Most

TACNY Junior Cafe Scientifique: “Exploring The World Of Electronics – Learn How To Design, Code, Create, And Program Computers And Microcontrollers”

Posted on January 12, 2016 5:23 pm - - Leave a Comment

Saturday – January 16, 9:30-11:00am

Milton J Rubenstein Museum of Science & Technology – Syracuse, NY


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Talk Overview

Almost everywhere you look in today’s world, you will find electronic devices powering and controlling the world. Everything from stoplights to rockets are made possible by computers and their companion software. Have you ever wondered how any of these devices work? Did you know that you can make many of these devices and systems in your own home for only a few dollars? In this talk, Alex will take you through some of the fundamental principals of electronics development, coding, and the creation of physical electronic devices. By the end of the talk, you’ll have a better understanding of the devices and concepts that run everything from global transportation to finance, as well as the knowledge of how to get started making these devices yourself on a microprocessor that has 372 times more processing power than the computers on the Apollo 11 mission but still costs only a few dollars. Alex will also talk about how his knowledge of electronics led him to be one of the two grand prize winners at the Central New York Science and Engineering Fair and how he won a fourth place award in his division at the International Science and Engineering Fair.

Speaker

Alexander Wulff, a Junior at Skaneateles High School

Biography

2016jan12_17809291_mmmainElectronics and software have been some of Alex Wulff’s passions for many years. After injuring his leg playing soccer the summer of his freshman year of high school, Alex began to experiment with the creation of electronics on the Arduino platform, as he was immobile during his recovery. With this new knowledge Alex has created everything from interactive door locks to wearable assistive devices for the blind, which won the grand prize at our local science fair, sponsored by the MOST, and a fourth place award at the International Science and Engineering Fair. Alex also owns, operates, and maintains multiple websites as well as over 10 mobile apps on the iOS App Store.

About TACNY Junior Cafe Scientifique

TACNY Junior Cafe Scientifique, a program for middle-school students founded in 2005, features discussions between scientists and students about topics in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics in an informal atmosphere and seeks to encourage students to consider careers in these areas. Students must be accompanied by an adult and can explore the MOST at no cost after the event.

Technology Alliance of Central New York

Founded in 1903 as the Technology Club of Syracuse, the nonprofit Technology Alliance of Central New York’s mission is to facilitate community awareness, appreciation, and education of technology; and to collaborate with like-minded organizations across Central New York.

For more information about TACNY, visit www.tacny.org.

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TACNY Junior Cafe Scientifique: “The Robots Are Coming: It’s The End Of The World As We Know It”

Posted on December 10, 2015 6:26 pm - - Leave a Comment

Saturday – December 19, 9:30-11:00am

Milton J Rubenstein Museum of Science & Technology – Syracuse, NY


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Talk Overview

If you watch movies you may have seen many films about Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) – recent ones include ‘Ex Machina‘, ‘Chappie‘, ‘Terminator Genisys‘ and even ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron‘. Many of these movies portray an evil A.I. that is trying to take over the world, but is that really our future? This talk will look logically at what we can expect in the future and how machines are likely to change the world we live in … and potentially change us as human beings …

Speaker

Damian Schofield, Ph.D., Professor of Computer Science and Director of the Human Computer Interaction Program, State University of New York at Oswego.

Biography

100408_schofield_0004Dr. Schofield obtained a Ph.D. in Artificial Intelligence many, many years ago – Since then he has continued to teach and research in this field – particularly in the areas of transhumanism and cyborg theatre. Dr. Schofield is currently Director of Human Computer Interaction (Full Professor) at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Oswego. He is also currently a Visiting Associate Professor of Forensic Computing at Edith Cowan University, Perth, Western Australia. Prior to his move to America, Dr. Schofield held the position of the Associate Professor of Computer Games and Digital Media, in the School of Creative Media at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia. Before his move out to Australia, he was Lecturer in the School of Computer Science at the University of Nottingham, UK and helped manage the prestigious Mixed Reality Laboratory at Nottingham University. Dr. Schofield also remains a director and major shareholder of Aims Solutions Ltd., a UK based company created in 2000, to provide computer graphics visualization services and virtual reality based simulation training products to a wide range of public and private sector organizations. Dr. Schofield also watches a lot of science fiction movies and plays too many computer games.

About TACNY Junior Cafe Scientifique

TACNY Junior Cafe Scientifique, a program for middle-school students founded in 2005, features discussions between scientists and students about topics in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics in an informal atmosphere and seeks to encourage students to consider careers in these areas. Students must be accompanied by an adult and can explore the MOST at no cost after the event.

Technology Alliance of Central New York

Founded in 1903 as the Technology Club of Syracuse, the nonprofit Technology Alliance of Central New York’s mission is to facilitate community awareness, appreciation, and education of technology; and to collaborate with like-minded organizations across Central New York.

For more information about TACNY, visit www.tacny.org.

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MOST Hosts Fundraiser For Nepal – 23 May 2015, 7:00 p.m.

Posted on May 18, 2015 9:09 pm - - Leave a Comment

Proceeds from a May 23 showing of “Everest” will benefit Red Cross’ Disaster Relief Fund

015may18_MOST_logoSYRACUSE (May 14, 2015) — The MOST is partnering with American Red Cross of Western and Central New York to raise money for the Red Cross’ Disaster Relief Fund that’s aiding the victims of Nepal’s two deadly earthquakes.

On April 25, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Nepal, killing more than 8,000 people and injuring more than 18,000. The quake triggered a landslide on Mount Everest, killing 19 people, and destroyed several buildings in UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Kathmandu.

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Just as things were starting to return to normal, an earthquake of magnitude 7.3 struck further east Tuesday (May 12) on the same fault line near the base of Mount Everest. Terrified people fled outside and some buildings weakened by the earlier quake collapsed. A hundred more people are reported killed, and more than 2,000 injured.

The MOST is altering its usual Saturday night movie schedule on May 23 to host a fundraiser in the Bristol IMAX Omnitheater to support disaster relief. The 7 p.m. event will feature a Red Cross presentation followed by a showing of the IMAX movie “Everest.” Tickets for the event are $25 and money raised, less expenses, will benefit the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.

Official Trailer for the 1998 IMAX release of Everest.

These proceeds will help people affected by disasters like the Nepal earthquakes and countless other crises, and will help enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small. Funds being designated to the Nepal Red Cross from the American Red Cross are being transferred through its Disaster Relief Fund. To date, $5 million has been disbursed.

“We are pleased to be joining forces with the Red Cross to help the victims of the Nepal earthquakes,” said MOST Executive Vice President Anthony Ortega. “The already cash-strapped country is devastated, and the people there need our help.”

The movie “Everest” follows an international team of climbers as they attempt to ascend Mount Everest in spring 1996. The film depicts the challenges the group faced, including avalanches, lack of oxygen, ice walls, and a deadly blizzard. During the movie, scientist Roger Bilham placed a seismograph at the mountain’s Camp Four, at 26,000 feet, to measure earthquake tremors.

MacGillivray Freeman Films, which made “Everest,” has generously waived license fees for special showings of the movie to help the MOST raise funds for Nepal.

The MOST is canceling its 6 p.m., 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. movies to hold the 7 p.m. fundraiser. The Omnitheater holds 212 people, so seating is limited. Tickets are available on a first come, first served basis and can be purchase at the MOST, 500 S. Franklin St., Syracuse, or by phone at (315) 425-9068 x2132 between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays.

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CNYO Observing Log: International Observe The Moon Night, 6 September 2014

Posted on September 13, 2014 1:41 pm - - 1 Comment

Larry Slosberg and I (Ryan Goodson) arrived at the Onondaga Creekwalk at 7:30 p.m. for the CNY edition of the International Observe The Moon Night. We quickly realized that the Moon would be obstructed by a row of large buildings, making this locale not ideal for the night. We decided to scout other locations.

After a quick walk to The MOST, we found the perfect spot on the same sidewalk shared by both a vacant building under construction and the ever-trendy record store The Sound Garden. Our fear was that foot traffic would be slow, but the Moon was well positioned and slowly traversing its way over The MOST, so we decided this would be the spot.

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After a quick set-up (and by quick I mean lightning fast – a couple NMT’s – whadya expect?), our earlier fear of lack-of-traffic was quickly replaced with the anxiety of too many onlookers and not enough scopes! I had set up Dan Williams’ 8” scope, and Larry was equipped with his car dwelling 12”. Thankfully, Dan Williams and Raymond Dague of the Syracuse Astronomical Society made an appearance and aided Larry and I with the part of the outreach I call the splainin’ (that’s okie for explaining). Larry was certainly the star of the show with his use of common objects to put stellar sizes in perspective. Dague and Williams both provided excellent commentary about the Moon and what turned out to be a far bigger hit – Saturn and Mars!

After pointing Williams’ 8” at Saturn, the comments ranged from, “That has to be fake,” to “Get the hell outta here! I’ve never seen anything so incredible!” Since this was a night dedicated to the Moon (albeit nearly full – maybe next year we get a petition making the rounds to move the special occasion to a first quarter date), we had to go back to our lunar companion and get a few oohs and aahs from those views as well.

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For the reader wanting the specifics, the scope I had used was an 8” F6.5. The eyepieces used for both the Moon and the planets were a 31mm Nagler (43x magnification), a 12mm Delos (110x magnification) and for the steadiest moments I would use a 2X Celestron Ultima Barlow in conjunction with the Delos to yield that sweet spot of 222x for Saturn. Through the 8” F6.5, this view revealed the ringed planet, the Cassini Division, 4 moons, and subtle surface detail (the surface detail part probably only seen by the more experienced observers in the group). In fact, it was this view that a group of Chinese tourists seemed most excited about. One of the last of the public onlookers to leave had stated that the night had been the most magical she can remember.

The Moon was viewed through both scopes and always filtered. The views were big and bright, with most of the questions relegated to wondering about the maria and larger craters. A young college student said she was excited to finally have tidal lock splained in a way she could understand-thank you Larry Slosberg for relating information in such a candid way!

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Before wrapping the event up we pointed toward a number of double stars and talked a bit about the large number of planetary systems being discovered by professionals and amateurs alike. The session closed around 9:45 PM, and we went home energized and ready for the next CNYO event.

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Science Content And Enrichment Assistant Positions At The Museum Of Science & Technology, July 2014

Posted on July 4, 2014 2:36 pm - - Leave a Comment

Greetings fellow astrophiles (and STEM-job hunters),

The following job announcements were forwarded along to me by Nancy Volk, Education Director (and our regular solar hostess) at the Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science and Technology (a.k.a. The MOST). If you or someone you know might be interested, please forward the link and/or contact info along.

Science Content Specialist

The Science Content Specialist will be working with 6th, 7th and 8th grade students focusing on Engineering, Space and Flight, and Robotics lessons. The format will be student centered and experience rich project oriented lessons. We are looking for enthusiastic, positive, and creative instructors that know how to engage middle school students. We will look for candidates with strong facilitation skills. Requirements are: Bachelor’s degree with experience in education and working with middle school students. The applicant does not need to be a certified teacher in New York State. We will assist with training. Diversity is very important to us.

Please send cover letter, resume, and three references to Nancy L. Volk at Museum of Science & Technology: 500 S. Franklin St. Syracuse NY 13202 or e-mail nvolk@most.org with Science Content Applicant in the subject line.

MOST Enrichment Assistant

Enjoy working with youth in an educational environment? Want to be part of a team that inspires STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) learning and make a difference in your community? We are looking for enrichment assistants for a Museum of Science & Technology program in the Syracuse City School District middle school classrooms. Be part of a team to deliver hands on, student centered lessons at one of the middle schools in our program scope. Work will be during school hours and follow a school calendar year.

A two year degree and experience working with middle school students recommended. Please send cover letter, resume, and three references to Nancy L. Volk at Museum of Science & Technology: 500 S. Franklin St. Syracuse NY 13202 or e-mail nvolk@most.org with MOST Enrichment Assistant Applicant in the subject line.

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