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February 2008 - Vol 46, Issue 1
February 2008
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Vol 46, Issue 1
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Letter from the President/CEO
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Dear Friends of the Youth Science Center,
Happy New Year!
We have great plans for the New Year. We are excited about our partnership with the Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District and the Sanitation District of Los Angeles County. Our 5th grade Water Education Program is about ready to go! The program will be based on the Project WET curriculum and aligned with the California Science Content Standards, with additional hands-on curriculum. We are working on other projects, including outreach sites. Again, As I mentioned at the Gala, science education in the US has come under even more scrutiny, fueled by performance of elementary, middle, and high school students on science exams. Educators across the nation are also concerned that there are not enough students interested in science to meet the country's future needs. The federal government has just stepped up and pledged funding to support science curriculum from elementary school, all the way up to the university level. This is a step in the right direction. In response to the call for improvements in science education, YSC has received NUMEROUS partnership requests and are expanding quickly. We are excited about this new development and will be creating new innovative and fun programs for the new year. Due to the popularity of the YSC, we need more teachers! Please contact us if you are interested in teaching for the YSC. We will send you an application ASAP.
In the upcoming year, we will also begin focusing on a new facility for the YSC. If you are interested in joining the Facilities Committee, please contact us.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions, comments or suggestions.
Sincerely,
Ling-Ling Chang
President & CEO
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| HAPPY NEW YEAR |
The year 4705 began on February 7 in the Chinese calendar. This is the year of the Rat.
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Officers Nominated for 2008-9
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The following have been nominated for 1-year terms ending April 2009:
Chairman Ron Chong
Vice-Chairman Kim Bach
Secretary Manuel Serrano
Treasurer William Yuen
Nominated for 3-year terms on the Board of Directors:
Ron Chong, Walter Clark, Manuel Serrano, Jose Romo and Vicky Soong.
Nominated to a term expiring in 2009: Jeff Parriott (City of Industry Councilman)
Officers and directors will be installed at the April 28 Board Meeting at the Diamond Bar SCAQMD offices.
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Become a YSC Member Now to Get Summer Discounts
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YSC members receive a discount to every summer class and your memberships are tax deductible.
Click on the "Become a Member of the YSC" link at the top of this page.
Family memberships are only $50. Higher support levels are also welcome!
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Summer Science Program at Wedgeworth
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This year's YSC summer science camp at Wedgeworth Elementary will be held June 23 - August 1. Members receive the first mailing of the schedule and discounts for every class taken. To receive a schedule when it is mailed in early May, please send your name and address to
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To become a family member, send $50 by check payable to Youth Science Center, 16949 Wedgeworth Drive, Hacienda Heights 91745. Memberships are on an annual basis from the time of joining.
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New YSC Web Capabilities
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The YSC is doing a makeover of its web page with new exciting graphics and sound. The web page is being designed as a public service by Ryan Gagajena, President of www.mywebdesignsource.com.
We will also be adding social networking via weblogs (blog) and Facebook. If you would like to see the YSC Facebook page, click here . If you are already a member of Facebook, search on Youth Science Center and click on "Join Group." If you are not
a member of Facebook, you will have to log in to www.facebook.com and fill out your profile information. Next, search on Youth Science Center and join our group. We want to expand our community of parents, alumni, students and supporters!
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New Digital Starlab Shows Available |
The new digital Starlab is available for shows at your school.
Come and see the mysteries of space through the Starlab, the indoor planetarium of the Youth Science Center. It offers children the opportunity to study stars through a portable, inflatable planetarium. Now you don't have to wait until it gets dark at night to see the wonders of the sky. Our new digital projector will show the sun and the seasons, Greek constellations and how they move around the North Star, objects in the current night sky, and even a simulated fly by around the moon! The planetarium will accommodate a class of 35 students. It is 20 feet in diameter and 11 feet high. Narrated shows are 45-minutes in length, and must be done indoors. Digital Starlab programs are $100 each, 2 show minimum. Programs are for grade 2 through 6.
Call the YSC at 626.854.9825 or email
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to book a program or for more information. Pictured above: Starlab instructor Judy Dominguez preps Temple Academy students on inaugural show with new digital dome on February 1st.
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- Judy Dominguez: Eye on the Sky
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The International Space Station and the Space Shuttle Atlantis will pass over our area this Friday and Saturday night!
On Friday, Feb. 15, the shuttle and space station will be connected so there will be plenty of reflective surfaces to make it shine brightly. It will look like a star that gets brighter as it gets higher in the sky. It will look white. There will be no blinking or colored lights and it will move in a straight line. IT WILL BE ON TIME! You will know you're seeing it because it will be right where and when it is predicted to be. On Saturday, the shuttle will be disconnected and you may see the rare sight of one behind the other going in the same direction. This information is always available to you on a user friendly website: Heavens-above.com.
0 degrees above the horizon is right on the horizon and 90 degrees above the horizon is straight up above your head
Friday, February 15:
Starts at: 6:20 PM in the NNW direction about 10 degrees above the horizon
Best at: 6:23 PM in the NE direction about 26 degrees above the horizon
Ends at: 6:24 PM in the E direction about 18 degrees above the horizon as it passes into
the earth's shadow
Saturday, February 16:
This will be the times for the space station. The shuttle may be ahead or behind it.
Starts at: 6:40 PM in the NW direction 10 degrees above the horizon
Best at: 6:43 PM in the SW direction 80 degrees above the horizon
Ends at: 6:45 PM in the SE direction about 24 degrees above the horizon where it
Passes into the earth's shadow
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YSC Receives Foundation Grants
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The Youth Science Center is pleased to announce receipt of 3 foundation grants in the last quarter of 2007. US Bancorp Foundation gave $2,500, the Boeing Employee Community Foundation awarded $10,000 and Citibank Foundation awarded $3,000. The awards will be used to support operating expenses and for after school classes for underserved students. Thanks to volunteer Teri Malkin for writing the grants and Al Callanta of Boeing, Jose Romo of US Bank, and Vicente Sandoval of Citibank for being our employee supporters.
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WATER PROGRAM AVAILABLE FOR SCHOOLS |
The YSC is pleased to announce that we will be conducting a water education outreach program for public and private school 5th grade classes. The program is underwritten by the Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District (a water wholesaler which supplies local water districts) and the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County. The free program consists of three 50-minute hands-on lessons followed by an optional field trip to a water-related facility. Eligible schools must be in the USGVWD service area. See map.
Contact the YSC at
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to have the program at your school.
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PENNIES FROM HEAVEN
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  Save your pennies and loose change for our new Science Center buildinlg. Pennies can really add up -- even though the US Mint reports that it takes 2 cents to make a penny! Deposit them in our coin bottle at the YSC in Room 8. You (and we) will be glad you did!
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| Middle School API Scores for 2006 and 2007 |
API Scores
Middle School/District 2007 2006
LOS ANGELES COUNTY
Carmenita/ABC 896 900
Fedde/ABC 621 601
Haskell/ABC 764 746
Ross/ABC 724 741
Tetzlaff/ABC 773 782
Torch Middle/Bassett 735 715
El Roble Intermediate/Claremont 811 802
Las Palmas Intermediate/Covina 731 709
Sierra Vista Intermediate/Covina 749 753
Traweek Intermediate/Covina 710 707
East Whittier Middle/ E Whittier 753 743
Granada Middle/E Whittier 783 763
Hillview Middle/E Whittier 743 736
Goddard/Glendora 841 829
Sandburg Middle/Glendora 823 813
Cedarlane Middle/HLP 708 722
Grandview Middle/HLP 663 665
Mesa Robles Middle/HLP 901 n.a.
Newton Middle/HLP 803 801
Orange Grove MiddleHLP 764 738
Sierra Vista Middle/HLP 678 654
Sparks Middle/HLP 711 681
Bell Gardens Int/Montebello 613 592
Eastmont Int/Montebello 677 644
La Merced Int/Montebello 649 646
Macy Int/Montebello 734 736
Montebello Int/Montebello 655 646
Suva Int/Montebello 624 616
Emerson Middle/Pomona 628 645
Freemont Middle/Pomona 620 644
Lorbeer Middle/Pomona 834 824
Marshall/Pomona 655 649
Palomares Middle/Pomona 658 627
Simons Middle/Pomona 683 676
Muscatel Middle/Rosemead 778 741
Alvarado/Rowland 822 834
Giano/Rowland 732 725
Rincon/Rowland 749 756
Chaparral Middle/Walnut 890 892
South Pointe Middle/Walnut 863 855
Suzanne Middle/Walnut 895 855
Edgewood Middle/West Covina 730 725
Hollencrest Middle/West Covina 747 766
ORANGE COUNTY
Brea Jr/Brea-Olinda 835 856
Ladera Vista Jr/Fullerton Ele 785 787
Nicolas Jr./Fullerton Ele 675 679
Parks/Fullerton Ele 888 867
Imperial Middle/La Habra 701 705
Washington Middle/La Habra 695 718
Lakeside Middle/Irvine 917 917
Rancho San Joaquin/Irvine 919 916
Sierra Vista Middle/Irvine 914 922
South Lake Middle/Irvine 900 897
Venado Middle/Irvine 900 879
Kraemer Jr/Placentia-Yorba Linda 749 743
Tuffree/Placentia-Yorba Linda 822 797
Yorba/Placentia-Yorba Linda 831 832
Yorba Linda/Placentia-Yorba Linda 841 816
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
Canyon Hills Jr./Chino 858 862
Magnolia Jr./Chino 752 739
Ramona Jr./Chino 726 681
Woodcrest Jr/Chino 734 702
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California Science Student Scores Lag US and Other Countries
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Eighth grade science students in California were ranked with those in other countries in a report issued November 14, 2007, by the American Institutes for Research, "Chance Favors the Prepared Mind." The work used statistical methods to combine scores in the 8th Grade NAEP science test taken by California students in 2005 with the 2003 TIMMS test, a widely recognized international exam.
The results showed that 18% of California students had a basic proficiency in science -- which means that have partial mastery of knowledge and skills. The rankings in terms of percentage having basic proficiency or better:
Singapore 55%
Taiwan 52
South Korea 45
Hong Kong 44
Japan 42
Estonia 41
England 38
Hungary 38
UNITED STATES 31
Australia 30
Sweden 28
New Zealand 26
Slovak Republic 26
Lithuania 25
Russia 24
Slovenia 24
Scotland 24
Belgium 22
Latvia 21
Malaysia 20
CALIFORNIA 18
Israel 18
Bulgaria 17
Italy 17
Jordan 15
Norway 15
Romania 14
Serbia 12
Report author Gary Phillips called the findings "a mixed bag, although the bad news kind of trumps the good news." The report shows the need for the U.S. to focus on improving math and science, particularly in the early grades. By doing so it will encourage more students to pursue careers in these fields. He went on to say that climate change and disease are among the problems whose solutions require that we have a literate citizen-public.
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The Secret to Raising Smart Kids
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The December 2007 Scientific American Mind magazine reported that researchers found that the secret to raising smart kids lies in praising them -- not praising them for being intelligent, but praising them for their efforts. This lays the foundation for high achievement in school and life.
Students who do well in school without any effort can reach a plateau and even find their grades dropping and become unmotivated because their parents did not praise their efforts. This kind of praise results in a growth-mind set which is the key for success.
"Mastery-oriented children think intelligence is malleable and can be developed through education and hard work. They want to learn above all else. After all, if you believe that you can expand your intellectual skills, you want to do just that."
Read the complete Scientific American Mind article here.
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 MIT Physics Available to Everyone Online
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MIT has made available free access to certain classes through its Open Courseware Series. The 36 lectures of Class 8.02, Electricity and Magnetism with Professor Walter Lewin was videotaped in its entirety. Experience what it is like to take a class at MIT by clicking here. If you are really ambitious try doing some of the problem sets. Lewin does his best to show students that "Physics is beautiful."
Course Highlights
8.02 is a second-semester freshman physics class in electromagnetism. The website features lecture notes, problem sets with solutions, exams with solutions, links to related resources, and a complete set of videotaped lectures. The 36 video lectures on Electricity and Magnetism, by Professor Lewin, were recorded on the MIT campus during the Spring of 2002. Prof. Lewin is well-known at MIT and beyond for his dynamic and engaging lecture style.
Course Description
8.02 Classical Theory of Electromagnetism. In addition to the basic concepts of Electromagnetism, a vast variety of interesting topics are covered in this course: Lightning, Pacemakers, Electric Shock Treatment, Electrocardiograms, Metal Detectors, Musical Instruments, Magnetic Levitation, Bullet Trains, Electric Motors, Radios, TV, Car Coils, Superconductivity, Aurora Borealis, Rainbows, Radio Telescopes, Interferometers, Particle Accelerators (a.k.a. Atom Smashers or Colliders), Mass Spectrometers, Red Sunsets, Blue Skies, Haloes around Sun and Moon, Color Perception, Doppler Effect, Big-Bang Cosmology.
Read the NY Times 12/19/2007 article on Lewin's class here.
Webcasts from other colleges and universities can be found on the Open Culture website.
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The Most Terrifying Video You'll Ever See
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Greg Craven teaches science at Central High School in Monmouth Oregon. He single-handedly created a 46 part series on the consequences of global warming on YouTube. The first part, "The Most Terrifying Video You'll Ever See," gives an overview of taking or not taking actions to combat global warming. Although the video is decidedly low-tech and was shot in his classroom, it has resulted in round the world fame for Greg with 3 million people seeing this video. It also earned him the recent honor of Outstanding Teacher of the Year by the Oregon Science Teachers Association.
Greg wrote on OregonLive.com: "What it essentially boils down to is this: Instead of waiting for certainty from scientists about climate change -- since all science is inherently uncertain -- we should take a page from the playbook of casinos and insurance companies and do a basic risk assessment, taking into account the likelihoods and consequences of the various possibilities. Basically, it comes down to a single question: Which is the more prudent risk -- take action and risk the possible economic harm that the skeptics warn about, or don't take action and risk the possible upheaval that the activists warn about? The bottom line is, either way, we're taking a risk.
So which is the wiser choice? We can't know for certain. Only time will tell. So I guess the operative question to ask is: What if you're wrong? Could you live with that?"
Click here to see the CSM article about Greg's activities and its link to the YouTube video. See if you agree with his position and share the video with others. Also a link to his PBS interview on why teachers should "teach the controversy" on global warming.
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 Choosing a Science Fair Project
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It's that time of year again when science fair projects are getting underway. If your child is having trouble picking a topic or narrowing it down, the Science Buddies website will be a big help! The online Topic Selection Wizard will has a questionaire which will help your students identify areas of interest and will even lead them to projects which are meaningful and inquiry-based. There are six major science categories and 25 specific interest areas. As reported in the December 2007 issue of Science & Children (a member publication of the National Science Teacher's Association), 85% of students in a 5th grade class in Roseville, California, found the core idea of a science project useful. They were also able to come up with the trickiest part, defining a testable question (the HYPOTHESIS). The other 15% came up with projects by talking to family members or recalling other experiences in their lives. This group took more of the teacher's time to come up with testable project idea questions.
Give the Sciencebuddies.com website a try! It's free.
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Former YSC Student Doing Graduate
Work in Particle Physics in Switzerland
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Emily Thompson is working on her PhD in elementary particle physics from the University of Massachusetts. She recently moved to Switzerland to work on the
ATLAS Experiment in Geneva. See what this involves at her homepage. Emily has always been interested in science, and started coming to YSC classes when she was in the second grade at Killian Elementary!
She is the daughter of George and Virene Thompson of Rowland Heights. Emily attended Rowland High School and CalPoly Pomona before moving on to graduate work in Massachusetts. Our congratulations to Emily and best wishes to her career in physics.
The ATLAS experiment is one of 4 experiments making up the Hadron Collider. Read about this greatest experiment in the history of physics in the February 2008 issue of Scientific American.
Below: Emily with the first of two Atlas Detector end caps to be installed in a picture taken February 8, 2008.
The caps were transported 1.5 miles away and positioned above the pit where they are being installed. Note the huge size of the end cap!
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Backpacking in South America
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 Jeremy Cogan is a former Wedgeworth School and YSC student. A graduate of UCSD with a double major in political science and urban planning, he worked in
Washington DC as the press secretary for our representative, Congresswoman Grace Napolitano. Jeremy left that position in December 2007 for a 6 month adventure in South America. Jeremy writes:
I am writing to let you know that I have moved, but not in the traditional sense down the street or one community over. This time I swapped one national capital for another, and I am sitting in an internet cafe in Lima, Peru as I write this.
For about two and half years, I have lived and worked in Washington, DC for Congresswoman Grace F. Napolitano (CA-38). The job was extraordinary and gave me opportunities to work both the communications aspect (as her Press Secretary ) and to push forward policy initiatives (as a Legislative Assistant ). I feel privileged to have become acquainted with friends and colleagues in DC who exemplify the best qualities of leadership, dedication, and brilliance, and I hope to keep up to date with you.
Ultimately, the appeal of returning to school lured me away and simultaneously opened up the possibility to realize my goal of living abroad. So now that the GRE's are behind me, applications for Masters Programs in City and Regional planning are awaiting the eyes of an admissions committee somewhere, and English is becoming my less frequently used language, I begin 6 months of travelling throughout South America.
My adventure so far has included a week
in Peru, where I began Spanish immersion classes last week. I'll spend another few weeks here, and then mi amigo Jeremy Gallagher and I will be backpacking through Ecuador, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Brazil (and maybe more if there is time) over the next 5-6 months. During that time, I hope to learn Spanish fluently, volunteer, and explore all that South America has to offer.
If you are interested, you can follow my adventure over the next 6 months at www.jeremyfinder.com This travel blog will be updated frequently, and will have a plethora of photos, videos, and the latest status of my whereabouts.
Sincerely,
- Jeremy David Cogan
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Got Milk?
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 Read a high school senior Courtney Duffy's essay on milk. This unusual essay resulted in her getting in to her first-choice college, Trinity College in Connecticut.
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YSC Receives Donated PC Systems
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| Our thanks to Aaron Dominguez and Loyola Marymount University for the donation of 7 Pentium-4 Micron desktop computers and LCD monitors. These units will be added to the YSC computer lab in time for the summer program. Jeff Parriott of the City of Industry donated 2 Gateway LCD flat screen monitors. The lab needs 8 flat screen LCD monitors. If your business has any to donate, please call the YSC office at (626) 854-9825. |
Community Events
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Caltech presents: Bob Friedhofer in "The Science of Magic and Illusion," Thursday, February 21 at 8 pm. Beckman Auditorium, Free admission and parking. Bob shows how magic uses science to create illusions. Art and science clearly come together as Bob performs one amazing feat after another, and proves that our senses can truly be fooled. How are people fooled by magic? Is it principles of physics, chemistry , or biology? Or is it science of our mind, psychology, and neurology? You'll see when you experience Bob Friedhoffer's extraordinary performance.
WILD MUSHROOM FAIR. Sunday, February 10, 10 am - 4 pm. The Los Angeles Mycological Society presents the 24th Annual Wild Mushroom Fair. At the Los Angeles County Arboretum, 301 N. Baldwin Avenue in Arcadia. Free admission with paid Arboretum Admission. With the abundant rainfall this year there will be many varieties of mushroom on display. Grow your own oyster mushrooms. Cooking demonstrations. Books and Tee Shirts. Info: www.LAMushrooms.org
e-WASTE Roundup. Saturday Feb 16 at Chaparral Middle School, 1405 Spruce Tree Circle, Diamond Bar. All types of electronic waste accepted. 8 am to 1 pm.
New Results from the Planet Mars. Wednesday, February 20, 8 pm. Beckman Auditorium, Caltech.
Richard W. Zurek, Chief Scientist for the Mars Program at JPL will showcase the fruits from the Mars endeavors starting with the 1996 Mars Pathfinder and Mars Global Surveyor. See amazing detailed views of the Martian atmosphere, surface, and subsurface. Free admission. Beckman Auditorium is located near Michigan Avenue just south of Del Mar Boulevard in Pasadena. Free parking in the lots south of Del Mar between Wilson and Chester Avenues, and also in the parking structures at 405 S Wilson Avenue and 370 S Holliston Ave. No parking permit required.
LANTERN FESTIVAL. February 23, Noon to 5 pm. Presented by the Chinese American Museum. The
Annual Festival will be at the El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument, 425 N. Los Angeles Street. 8 am to 1 pm. Free Admission.
HILLCREST FESTIVAL OF FINE ARTS. February 22, 23 and 24. The 48th annual event will take place at Hillcrest Congregational Church, 2000 West Road, La Habra Heights. An Children's Art Studio will be held Noon to 4 pm on Saturday and Sunday. Overflow parking available at Bright Medical Center, 15725 E Whittier Blvd. Free Admission.
LOS ANGELES ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION FAIR. March 10 (9 am to 4 pm), Marcy 11 (Noon to 4 pm). At the Los Angeles County Arboretum, 301 N. Baldwin Avenue in Arcadia. Free with admission to the Arboretum ($7 adults, $5 seniors 62+, $2.50 kids 5 to 12). Young people, their families and those who educate them will discover the latest hands-on activities, ready-to-use lesson ideas, and useful resources that are easily incorporated into every life. Free trees to take home.
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| A Visit to the Moon |
 Hacienda La Puente 3rd grade teacher C.M. Pleitez is the author of "If I Could Go To The Moon," a 28 page book available on Amazon.com for $12.95. Mrs. Pleitez teaches at Wing Lane Elementary in La Puente.
Book Description
Do you ever wonder what it would be like to visit the moon? Who would you go with? What would you do? What would you see? How would you feel? This illustration book will allow imaginative conversation between parent and child or teacher and students. It will motivate you to wonder! Children will want to read this book over and over again Rhyme with it, chant with it. Enjoy it!
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 Dr. Flubber Birthday Party Auction
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George "Dr. Flubber" Lightholder is offering parents the opportunity to bid on a birthday party activity consisting of chemistry ("Flubber") or flight at your home. George will provide one hour of exciting activities for up to 15 kids. Opening bid is $150 plus gratuity. The bid increment is $10. This is a $200 value. Bidders must live in the area from Hacienda Heights to Chino. Bidding ends on February 29. Please email your bid to
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Proceeds will benefit the YSC.
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Announcements |
 Shop Online and Help the YSC: You can help the YSC by shopping online via the Shop for Museums network. All you need to do is visit the Shop for Museums' website and register your email address. When registering be sure to specify the "Youth Science Center" as the beneficiary of the benefits of your shopping. Some of the more notable shops that will donate a percentage to the YSC are Amazon.com, the National Geographic Store, Dell, and Tiger Direct.
  Albertson's Community Partners: If you shop at Albertson's Markets and Sav-on Drugs, your purchases can help the YSC. For every purchase, we receive a minimum of 2% as a rebate. Last quarter we received a check for $133. If you have an Albertson's Preferred Savings Card and would like to support this program, please e-Mail your name, phone number, and Albertson's Preferred Card to
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gFor more information check their website.
GRAFFITI REPORTIING. Help fight graffiti in the unincorporated areas of Hacienda Heights and Rowland Heights. Call the 24-hour Los Angeles Public Works hotline at 1-800-675-4357 or do it online and upload optional pictures.
The Antenna: This electronic newsletter is made possible by the sponsorship of Shop for Museums and a grant from Constant Contacts Care 4 Kids Program. Graphics and newsletter layout designed by Kristopher Kato.
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| Custom Made Angora Scarves |
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Develop your child's vocabulary and help him or her prepare for the SAT tests. Vocabulitis is partnering with the YSC by donating part of their class fees to the YSC building fund.
