past:
present:
The Austin Nature and Science Center
Power of the
Past
Time Line
June 2001 Janice Sturrock, Austin Nature and Science Center staff, writes and submits grant for Public Science Day 2002. Title of the project is “Power of the Past”. ANSC will partner with Zavala Young Scientists and the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA). Janice attends a “Texas Dinosaurs for Teachers” workshop at the Bamberger Ranch near Austin. Todd McDowell attends an archeology teacher workshop at the Nightengale Archeology Center. The center is owned by the LCRA. The workshop is taught by Dan Prykyl, staff archeologist of the LCRA.
July 2001 $4000.00 grant is awarded to ANSC for 2001-2002 school year.Todd McDowell and Janice Sturrock plan for the project. Field trip possibilities are discussed and planned. Todd McDowell works the project into his curriculum for the year.
Sept 2001 Todd, Janice and Kathy Maddox of the ANSC travel to Washington DC for the orientation meeting for PSD 2002.
Oct. 9, 2001 The Zavala class attends
the Career Day Fair at the Bureau of Economic Geology at the Pickle Reseach Center
of the University of Texas. Kids participate in sessions about archeology
and geology.
Oct 26, 2001 The Zavala class, Mr. McDowell
and Ms. Sturrock travel to the Nightengale Archeology Center
near Kingsville, Texas. The 3 hour interactive program includes discussion
about prehistoric life in Central Texas, the work of an archeologist and
experience throwing an atlatl. Our
group also visits the a hydroelectric dam and views a old turbine that
is on display. The kids can see the size of the turbine and the reservoir.
Because of 9-11, the dam is “locked down” and we are not able to walk
on it.
Nov 28, 2001 We visit the Nuclear Engineering Teaching Laboratory at the Pickle Research Center, University of Texas. Sean O’Kelly, Associate Director leads an interesting and informative presentation about nuclear energy. We get to observe the nuclear reactor and where it is housed. Upon leaving the facility, everyone must place hands and feet in a machine that measures radiation exposure. All are relieved to not be contaminated and leave the site safely.
Dec 6, 2001 Todd, Janice and Jason Hook meet to discuss the project web space. Jason is a middle school teacher at Kealing Junior High.
Dec 10, 2001 Janice, Todd and the Zavala Young Scientists are treated to a presentation by a CS373 computer science class at UT. Students in the class have developed interactive games on dinosaurs and energy.
Jan 2002 Zavala class continues their study of energy. Students develop reports on different forms of energy. Reports will be put on the web site.
Jan 25, 2002 Zavala students attend the Minerals, Rocks and Fossils program presented by the Austin Nature and Science Center staff.
Feb 8-9, 2002 Zavala students travel to the Bamberger Ranch for a paleontology experience. We explore the sauropod dinosaur tracks in the Blanco River, the acrocanthosaurus dinosaur tracks at the Bamberger Ranch, collect fossils and learn more about Central Texas geology.
Feb 2002 Zavala students develop exhibit for Austin Science Fun Day booth.
Mar 2, 2002 Austin Science Fun Day. This local showcase of science is held at the Texas Memorial Museum of Science and History and is a city-wide science event. Zavala Young Scientists exhibit interactive experiments about energy and explore other science projects presented by students. Students serve as the experts for the day explaining their experiments and activities to visitors.
Mar 4, 2002 Students do a driving tour of power plants in the Austin area. We visited the Holly Power Plant for fossil fuels (natural gas/oil); solar panels for solar power at 2 sites and a hydroelectric power plant and dam.
Mar 5-8, 2002 Students prepare reports on power plants and conduct phone interviews with professional staff at local sites.
Mar 20, 2002 International Showcase of Science web broadcast. Zavala kids present a skit on the different kinds of energy they have studied.
Mar 22, 2002 Austin Nature and Science Center hosts a groundbreaking ceremony for their new "Dino Pit" exhibit. This outdoor, hands on paleontology exhibt will allow visitors to dig for casts of fossils originally discovered in different parts of Texas.
Mar 29, 2002 AAAS project web space completed.