Science Companion » Philadelphia

Goodbye from Science Companion and Spheniscus magellanicus.

Leigh — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 23:27:19 +0000

NSTA 2010 is coming to a close, and we found some special visitors to help us say goodbye.

Special visitors - Spheniscus magellanicus

These penguins, native to South America, were visiting NSTA with folks from SeaWorld. If you’d like to watch some baby penguins in action, the Adventure Aquarium in Camden, NJ has video on their website of these and other aquatic creatures. (Scroll down when the page opens.)

If you’d like to enter our raffle, you still have time to do so. We’ll do a drawing and announce the winner on March 28th. Click here for details on how to enter.

Using the web for science education.

Leigh — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 18:08:41 +0000

Ben Franklin was a man who wore many hats – inventor, scientist, statesman.

Philadelphia’s Franklin Institute was founded in 1824 in the spirit of Franklin’s passion for science and technology. The Franklin Institute offers great online resources for science learning, including online and offline activities for students, Case Files, and an online collection of artifacts.

Also, Philadelphia’s Academy of Natural Sciences and Chemical Heritage Foundation have great web resources for teachers looking to integrate Internet technology into their classroom.

Science Future – “Eyeballs in the Fridge”

Leigh — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 16:28:47 +0000

Here’s some food for thought about a federally funded study looking at the early science experiences of scientists and graduate students. Click here for the Education Week blog entry.

Check out Jacqueline Kelly’s The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate for a (fictional) look a young scientist in the making in 1899 Texas.

What would the Liberty Bell sound like?

Leigh — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 12:15:10 +0000

A visit to Philadelphia’s past includes a stop by Independence Hall. This national landmark is the site where both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were debated and adopted by our founding fathers. Independence Hall, then known as the Pennsylvania State House, is also the original home of the Liberty Bell.

Science Companion team and Kate from the Museum of Science (Boston) visit Independence Hall.

Independence Hall

Liberty Bell

The Liberty Bell is now located a few steps away from it’s original home as part of Independence National Historic Park. You can read about stress tests done on the bell when it was moved in 2003 – click here. Although we can no longer ring the Liberty Bell, scientists have tried to replicate it’s sound. Click here to listen.

Rare Philadelphia gecko sighting!

Leigh — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 21:04:20 +0000

Friday was a busy day at NSTA. We even saw a rare Philadelphia gecko!

NSTA 2010 Grand Entrance

Belinda showed visitors a demo of our online pilot. Click here for a flyer about our pilot.

Demo of online pilot.

And our sales reps worked hard at the Science Companion booth.

Tom Pence greets visitors at the Science Companion booth.

Molly Russell hands out buttons at NSTA.

PA/NJ rep Sam Felicia is ready to answer questions.

1513

Tomorrow, we’ll take a look at science education and Science Future.

With Science Present (Part 2)

Leigh — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:56:43 +0000

“Wit or witout?”

One of Philadelphia’s food specialities is the cheesesteak – typically thinly sliced ribeye, grilled and served up on an Amorosa roll, “wit or witout” onions, and topped off by a splash of Cheez Whiz. Widely available and often imitated, arguably the best are found at the intersection of 9th and Passyunk in South Philadelphia at either Pat’s or Geno’s.

Before you dismiss Cheez Whiz as junk food, we have a few surprises for you. Consider this article about processed foods and this one about the additional merits of the Whiz.

Hungry yet?

With Science Present (Part 1)

Leigh — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 12:09:08 +0000

It’s Day 2 of NSTA, and we’ve been out exploring Philadelphia. One of our favorites places to see and taste the local flavor is Reading Terminal Market. At RTM you can enjoy local specialities, such as scrapple or soft pretzels.

51 North 12th Street Philadelphia

North 12th Street Philadelphia

Come back to see us for lunch. We’ll be having another local favorite.

Catching up.

Leigh — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 21:28:32 +0000

The Science Companion team is enjoying catching up with friends in Philadelphia. If you are at the conference, stop by booth #1754 to say hello.

Sales rep Molly Russell and CEO Rita Ferrandino talk science.

Sales Manager Tom Pence and Rita celebrate Saint Patrick's Day.

Tomorrow we’ll explore the science of cheez whiz and get out and about in Philadelphia.

Connecting History Past . . .

Leigh — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 18:24:26 +0000

Since we are visiting the city widely regarded to be the birthplace of science in America, let’s start with a visit to the Philadelphia Area Center for History of Science. Their 2 web exhibits – “Dialogues with Darwin” and “Web of Healing” – use primary source material to ask questions about quackery and Native American and medical history.

1877 Skeletal reconstruction of Camarasaurus supremus.

Come by and see us…virtually! NSTA Philadelphia 2010

Leigh — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 02:23:29 +0000

All of the delights of a conference without the sore feet!

We’ll be posting several times a day, offering science ideas, links to Philadelphia, teaching tips, and other surprises. And we’ll be offering a raffle, just like in our booth on the trade show floor.

We’ve paired a virtual field trip to Philadelphia’s Mutter Museum with a great lesson on bones and joints from our Human Body in Motion Module

Click here to download our Human Body in Motion Field Trip Publication from Scribd!

Click here for the Mutter Museum’s very own excellent virtual tour.