Youth STEM Conference
On Wednesday, the 8th Grade students spent the day at Princeton University. The day began at the Youth STEM Conference hosted by Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory. In the Richardson Auditorium, the keynote speaker, Professor Stephanie Wissel from Penn State University, shared her passion for exploring neutrinos in Greenland.
Afterwards, the students made their way down to Briger Hall and engaged in a career panel before heading to Frick Chemistry Laboratory for a show, “The Amazing World of Chemistry.” Just before lunch, the students explored an exhibit of STEM projects and research by Princeton University graduate students and local high schools.
Professor Petry, mother of three PMonts students, treated everyone to lunch at Witman College before giving them a tour of Petry Labs, which focuses on molecular architecture and function of the microtubule cytoskeleton. It was wonderful to see Petry Lab, as Prof. Petry had talked to the Middle School at the beginning of March about the scientific method and how she applies it in her research. The 8th Graders returned to school to join the rest of the Middle School and host a Science Fair.
It was a great way to end the unit “Exploring Change and Restoring Balance,” during which we focused on the question, “How can scientists be leaders of change?”
