Girls Go GREEN at Advanced Science Siesta!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 2, 2008

The third annual Advanced Science Siesta for middle school girls was recently held on the University of Illinois campus at Champaign. This year's event focused on the research being done to explore and utilize alternative energy sources. Twenty-seven participants from Northwest Illinois were able to meet with science and engineering professors and students to see how they are working to find economical and environmentally friendly sources of energy for homes, business, and transportation.

Participants from the Stephenson County Extension Unit were Eva Folk, Christina Kruger, Aleshia Kyker, Michelle Ludwig, Diamond Merboth, Megan Mrozek, Alyssa Nelson, Jessica Paterno, and Katie Woessner.

Advanced Science Siesta is the second component in a program designed by the University of Illinois Extension 4-H Youth Development staff to promote science and engineering interests and careers. Research has shown that girls typically begin to shy away from science and math during upper elementary and middle school years. Science Siesta was created seven years ago to engage upper elementary girls in fun science activities with female scientists. Advanced Science Siesta was designed for middle school girls who have had past involvement in the Science Siesta program.

Day one of this two-day event focused on wind energy. The girls visited the Twin Groves Wind Farm near Bloomington, Illinois. Here they learned about the 240 wind turbines which have been put into operation in the last 18 months. These turbines can generate enough power to meet the annual electricity needs of 118,000 homes.

After visiting the wind farm, the girls were challenged by University of Illinois College of Engineering staff to create their own miniature wind turbine and harness its energy to lift a small load. By taking common supplies of paper, pencils, tape, paper clips, string, and paper cups the girls were able to use the power of moving air to lift up to fifty pennies a height of three feet. Key elements to success were persistence and a willingness to alter their design.

The girls spent day two learning about a variety of alternative energy sources. The campus organization Engineers Without Boarders demonstrated a toy train powered by a solar panel and a Lego-sized model car powered by a hydrogen battery. The girls created tiny battery cells using raspberry juice and then measured the energy output.

With gasoline prices at record level, everyone was interested in renewable fuel options. Participants toured a field plot where Crop Sciences students explained the research they are doing with switch grass and miscanthus as ethanol sources. The girls discovered that the perennial grass miscanthus can grow over 12 feet in a year. The Crop Sciences Department is using the energy from miscanthus to heat the farm house next to the field plot. Each girl dug a miscanthus root to take home. Expect to see small clumps of really tall grass in participants' back yards.

Advanced Science Siesta was sponsored by University of Illinois College of ACES and Illinois 4-H Foundation. University of Illinois Extension offices in DeKalb, Ogle, Lee, Whiteside, Stephenson, JoDaviess, and Carroll Counties organized the event. For more information about the Science Siesta programs, contact Kim Christman, 4-H Youth Development Educator at 815-235-4125.