In addition to having a prominent spot on APS TV—broadcast in multiple places throughout the conference—scientific talks included cutting-edge research by Detlef Smilgies, Darren Pagan, Jooseop Lee, Jacob Ruff, and Ken Finkelstein. This year’s March meeting also included something new and unexpected from CHESS—a large showcase of do-it-yourself Synchrotron Science themed exhibits aboard an aluminum foil covered Physics Bus!

The program’s name SRCCS, stands for Summer Research for Community College Students. Thanks to several volunteer mentors, we have exciting projects especially designed for SRCCS participants posted on our website: https://www.classe.cornell.edu/StudentOpportunities/SrccsProgram.html.

Along their way they stopped at middle schools across the country to teach hands-on lessons on renewable energy based on a mini 3D printed solar-powered bicycle called SolCycle. In the fall, one of the students, Elizabeth Case, enrolled at Cornell University as a graduate student and contacted Xraise to collaborate on enhancing the lesson plan and to make it more accessible to teachers across the nation.

As mentioned in a previous newsletter, our "Junk Genies" program has students transforming underutilized appliances into interactive physics treasure troves for public enjoyment. Last month, the finished exhibits left Ithaca aboard the Ithaca Physics Bus where they've traveled thousands of miles and have been enjoyed by hundreds of visitors.

Xraise, in collaboration with CLASSE research scientist Dr. Margaret Koker, has been hosting Hour of Code sessions for middle school students at Beverly J. Martin in downtown Ithaca during the month of November and into December. In these sessions we guide middle school students through the block tutorials hosted by the Hour of Code website, we talk about what computers do and how they are programmed to do tasks, we go on adventures with Ruby (the main character in the Hello Ruby children’s book) where she explores the whimsical world of computing…

Early pioneers in the now-popular "Maker Movement", we are familiar with the positive impact that this type of project based learning can have on both attitudes toward science, and self efficacy in science.

Nine educators and 85 students grades 3-8th from Syracuse, Tully, South Seneca, Interlaken and Ithaca were engaged in science learning through experience and exploration. Awesome!!!

Recognizing the broad applications of this type of technology, the Xraise outreach group worked with Devin Sonne, an undergraduate research student from Mohawk Valley Community College, on a summer project blending XRF research and outreach capabilities. Devin helped orchestrate collaboration between Dr. Robert Ross, education director at the Paleontological Research Institute (PRI) at the Museum of the Earth and Xraise to explore possible ways in which XRF technologies can be utilized by the geosciences to develop extended learning outcomes for secondary science education.

Lifting up the bottle to her face she peers through the lens and squints to help her eyes focus on the far side of the bottle decorated with green seaweed-like grass. “This is what it would look like if you were a fish looking at seaweed underwater!” she proclaims as she hands off her self-made fish goggles to another girl working at the same table.

In addition to working with staff scientists to understand complex phenomena and contribute to the growing body of knowledge surrounding x-ray science, these students are working with outreach staff to deliver educational programming to area youth. The young age of these researchers, coupled with their enthusiasm for and familiarity with scientific inquiry, makes them exceptional promoters of their field.