in Dry-Land Farming,” “Construction of a Feasible Einstein-Szilard Absorption Refrigeration System,” and “Synthesis of Complex Nanostructures for Solar Cells: Analysis using Novel D-SCOPEn.”
MEASURING SUCCESS In JSHS, the “whiz kids” who partici- pate represent some of the best of the Nation’s youth, with inquiring minds and a motivation to excel. The program and its sponsors work to encourage these students to become our Nation’s future scientific leaders and innovators.
SOLDIER SCIENCE PM SSL staffers present STEM-related programming to elementary school students.
plan and discuss course material and learn- ing strategies appropriate for the students.
First-graders might receive a “mission” to
“rescue” toys using night vision goggles in a dark room, prefaced by a grade- appropriate overview of what night vision goggles are and what they do. To answer the “so what?” question typically posed by older students, eighth-graders dig deeper into the technologies, scientific principles, and impact of night vision capabilities, while also engaging in team and individ- ual challenges.
CONTINUING INTEREST STEM-related opportunities do not stop there. The National Junior Science and Humanities Symposia (JSHS) Program, co-sponsored by the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology, the Office of Naval Research, and the U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research, aims to challenge and engage
students in grades 9-12 through its pres- tigious scholarship program. Individual students present their original research efforts before a panel of judges and their peers, in addition to taking advantage of hands-on workshops, panel discussions, career exploration, research lab visits, and networking events.
This year’s event, held April 27-May 1, boasted more than 360 participants, including 240 high school students who advanced to the national competition after presenting their independent STEM projects at 48 university-held regional symposia. Students competed for various levels of scholarships. First-place winners also were named as representatives to the London International Youth Science Forum, held in July and August.
Winning presentations in the 2011 JSHS included research on “The Use of Sodium Polyacrylate to Increase Crop Production
While success in establishing a lifelong interest in STEM-related fields cannot be measured precisely, Foster and the PM SSL team members are seeing more immediate results. For Investing in Our Youth, success is measured both qualita- tively—by the atmosphere established in the engagements with students and the attitudes expressed by PM SSL team members, students, and faculty—and quantitatively, through written student and faculty feedback.
For PM SSL, the most meaningful and tangible measure of success was dem- onstrated in a recent response from a fourth-grade student. During Invention Day at Fort Belvoir Elementary School, the fourth-grader brought in her own invention, a device that would light up when students selected correct responses to math equations. “Invention Day pro- vided her the opportunity to demonstrate innovation and critical thinking,” Foster said. “To us, that is a compelling demon- stration of success.”
BRITTANY ASHCROFT provides contract support to the U.S. Army Acqui- sition Support Center through BRTRC Technology Marketing Group. She has a B.A. in English from Elmhurst College.
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