On January 10, 2012, twenty-one
Commack High School girls took a field trip to Stony Brook University to make
many new discoveries about their futures in engineering. The girls got to
participate in the WISE program (Women in Science Engineering) during “Fun with
Engineering Day” at the school. The students that were selected to go on the
trip all had various skills and interests in science engineering as well as
many others. Assisting the girls on the trip was Mr. Castrogivanni alongside
his wife, Mrs. Castrogivanni. Being that they are both alumni of Stony Brook,
they were both so excited to revisit their past as well as see how things have
changed.
The day started off with a delicious
breakfast as well as welcoming and opening remarks from the staff. Shortly
after, it progressed into moving into groups to take a tour of the campus as
well as some of the labs. The group tours were a great time to look at the
campus as well as meet girls from other schools. The different tours consisted
of Biomedical Engineering, Energy Harvesting, Rapid Prototyping, Biofuels,
Hydrogen Fuel Cells, Atomic Force Microscopes and Confocal Microscope Lasers,
as well as Thermal Spray (Jet Engines).
After returning back from the
tours, we got to eat lunch while the staff and professionals inquired any
specific questions we had. This was a valuable part of the field trip because
it answered any questions girls had about their futures involving engineering. The
experience all the staff members have was a great guide to how and what we
should pursue in our future.
Last came my personal favorite part
of the trip, the building. The first project we got to work on was called a
BristleBot. The materials used to make the BristleBot were two toothbrushes, a
lithium coin battery, one vibrational motor, as well as tape. By breaking off
the tip of both the two brushes and connecting them, the battery and motor had
a usable service to rest on. After properly connecting the two together, the
BristleBot would vibrate and move! Some moved in random ways while others
traveled in circles. The second object we got to construct was a Balloon
Powered Car. With the use of a foam tray, straws, a cup, and some tape, you
were able to build an awesome balloon-powered car. After constructing the car,
by filling the balloon with air, your car was able to travel far distances
across flat surfaces. To complete the day, we got to end it with a Balloon
Powered Car race. The objective was to see whose car could travel the furthest.
One of the winners was Shir from Commack.
Overall, the WISE experience was an
unforgettable experience. Not only was it a great time to meet new people, but
a fun way to learn about engineering as well as your future. I hope the Fun
with Engineering field trip continues in the future and that more and more
schools find out about the trip and attend! Check out the videos of the BristleBots and the Balloon Powered Car race below!
~Ashley
