“I have enjoyed participating in Techbridge for the past three years. I think it has been a very important program for me because I want to become an engineer. Techbridge has given me the idea that I could do anything. It has shown me that I can choose my ideal job, and get there.” – Techbridge student from Summer Academy
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Techbridge's 2007 Summer Academy: It's a Shore Thing: Environmental Science
We hear from the girls that they want to make the world a better place, and so this year's theme for the summer academy resonated with their interests. The academy introduced girls to ecology and environmental science, encouraged environmental stewardship, promoted leadership and presentation skills, and increased knowledge and interest in careers in environmental science and engineering.
The project-based approach of the program gave the girls the chance to learn the interconnectedness of water, air, plants, people, and animals. The girls were introduced to how scientists collect and use data as well as the vocabulary for environmental study. Working with the East Bay Regional Parks District, the girls collected data that will be used to assess the health of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Shoreline.
Techbridge also partnered with Save The Bay on two community-service projects— conducting shoreline restoration and creating native plant and bird posters. The girls discovered the power of teamwork and what can be accomplished when 16 girls work together. In one morning the girls pulled approximately 460 pounds of mustard weed, an invasive plant species that threatens the shoreline. The second community-service project gave the girls an opportunity to learn about the native plants and birds at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Shoreline. The girls researched and designed 24 posters that will be displayed in kiosks along the shoreline.
During the summer academy, there were two lessons that helped the girls understand how their own lifestyles impact the environment. In the Ecological Footprint activity, the girls were given a quiz to determine the amount of land that is needed to support their living habits. Questions on the quiz included: “If you walk or ride your bike to school then take 0 steps forward,” “If you take the bus to school then take 1 step forward,” and “If you are driven to school take 3 steps forward.” This activity gave the girls a chance to understand their impact on the earth and to learn how they can decrease their ecological footprint by changing their habits.
In the Ways to Clean Green activity, the girls learned about cleaning products that have natural chemicals as their active ingredients. They leaned that white vinegar, baking soda, borax, and lemons can be substitutes for the toxic cleaners that are in most households. The girls were given tips on ways to clean green (e.g., freshen their sink drain with hot water and lemon juice).
The role models and field trips that are part of the academy experience are key to the success of our career exploration. They introduce girls to new career options and inspire them to want to study science and engineering. The girls learned about environmental engineering and mechanical engineering from Lydia Holmes and Lyn Gomes who work at Carollo Engineers in Walnut Creek . Lydia and Lyn talked about their work as environmental and mechanical engineers and more specifically about a recent project with the city of Petaluma —designing and building a wastewater treatment system in the local wetlands. The girls also met role models Michelle Luebke with the Volunteer Creek Monitoring Program for Contra Costa County and Kat Ridolfi witt the San Francisco Estuary Institute. From these role models, the girls learned how a passion for protecting the environment can lead to a personally and professionally rewarding career. Kat and Michelle offered valuable advice for what the girls can do right now to prepare for a career in environmental science: volunteer with a local creek group, do well in school, learn about the local ecosystem, and be a good watershed steward.
Techbridge's 2006 Summer Academy: Green Dollhouse Project
The Green Dollhouse Project was the perfect theme for introducing girls to ways in which engineering, technology, and science can make the world a better place. The girls started by researching green materials. They learned about products made from soy, wheat, recycled rubber, and much more. Role models from Swinerton, Inc. visited and shared their expertise in green materials and their passion for engineering. Later in the academy, the girls had the opportunity to visit the construction site for the new San Francisco Federal Building and the offices of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, shining examples of green building.
Once the girls knew what they could make their dollhouse with, they needed to learn how to construct. How could they build a dollhouse that would be sturdy enough to stand on its own? They met Karin Kuffel, a structural engineer, and Ken Fong, a building engineer, who both worked on Chabot during its construction. Karen and Ken gave them a behind-the-scenes tour of Chabot and went over the original architectural plans with the girls to give them an understanding of the work engineers do.
On Karen and Ken's tour of Chabot, the girls had the opportunity to visit the roof, which houses solar panels that help power Chabot. This was a fitting introduction to another aspect of the dollhouse project - solar energy. The girls spent an afternoon learning about circuits with breadboards, a reusable device used for experimenting with circuit design. This knowledge was helpful when the girls wired their dollhouses to run off a solar panel.
The girls worked in groups to decide the layout of their house and create a digital floor plan. After the floor plans were completed, the girls visited the East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse. They found objects they could give new life to as part of their dollhouses - a tennis ball became a hip bucket chair and dominos were the perfect size for kitchen counters.
While working on their dollhouses, the girls learned about environmental stewardship and personal responsibility. The lesson on electronics led to a discussion on how the girls could reduce their own electricity consumption. Snack time offered a chance to discuss composting and create worm columns to do just that.
The Techbridge Summer Academy is made possible through the generous support of the S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation.
For more information about this summer program and to find out how you can order step-by-step lesson plans for the academy's projects please contact us via email at techbridge@chabotspace.org or phone at 510.777.9170.
