2015 Program Participants Become Field Scientists Working with Habitat Experts, University Professors and Scientists
Eighty middle school students from 10 Central New York school districts completed Honeywell Summer Science Week this month. Now celebrating its 10th year, Honeywell Summer Science Week, which is organized by the Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science & Technology (MOST), has brought science to life in memorable ways by leading more than 600 students through hands-on science exploration in the Onondaga Lake watershed.
Honeywell Summer Science Week helps motivate students by improving their science aptitude and confidence and encourages them to work toward careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). During the week, young women who attended Honeywell Summer Science Week in previous years, and are now planning to pursue science in college or as a career, joined the group to share their stories and offer advice.
A recent survey of former Honeywell Summer Science Week participants shows that students who participate in the program gain more knowledge and confidence about science and are more interested in pursuing a STEM career.
Students spend more than 40 hours as field scientists, learning about the watershed and conducting hands-on experiments. Over the past 10 years, participants have completed more than 20,000 hours studying the Onondaga Lake watershed.
Left: 2015 Honeywell Summer Science Week participants measure water velocity in Onondaga Creek. Right: Students identify species found in Onondaga Creek.
Students plant trees and shrubs on the Onondaga Lake western shoreline. The planting was organized by the U.S. EPA award-winning Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps, which offers volunteers opportunities to participate in hands-on stewardship activities that help restore and sustain the watershed and its value as an Important Bird Area.
Students learn from habitat experts and engineers about habitat diversity and the
Onondaga Lake cleanup. Left: Steve Mooney, managing scientist at O’Brien & Gere, teaches a student about wetland plants. Right: Mike Conese, environmental engineer at Anchor QEA, teaches students about the Onondaga Lake cleanup.
On July 6, Honeywell and the MOST joined the middle school students aboard the Emita II tour boat to kick off Honeywell Summer Science Week.
Left: (Left to right) Honeywell Syracuse Program Director John McAuliffe, Onondaga County Executive Joanne Mahoney, MOST Exhibits Project Manager Peter Plumley, Ph.D., and Honeywell Summer Science Week 2012 participants Christy and Laurie Muok welcome the students. Right: 2015 Honeywell Summer Science Week participants.
“I love this camp because it’s about doing hands-on science in real life. The students get to see for themselves how we impact the environment, and how we can restore it,” said Rebecca Rolnick, a 2011 participant and 2015 volunteer, pictured above (right). “It’s amazing to see how the lake cleanup has progressed since I was a camper in 2011, when Honeywell told us how the lake cleanup was about to start. Now the dredging is finished, and we can show the students that a lot of birds and wildlife have started to return to Onondaga Lake.”
Habitat experts from Syracuse University, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY-ESF), and Onondaga Audubon Society teach the students about habitats and preserving the watershed.
The students visited Heiberg Memorial Forest, the Tully Valley, Clark Reservation, Syracuse University, and SUNY-ESF. Left: Syracuse University professor Charles Driscoll, Ph.D., talks to the students about Onondaga Lake’s water quality. Right: Onondaga Audubon Society birding expert Frank Moses helps students identify bird species found near Onondaga Lake.
“Honeywell Summer Science Weekprovides our students field experience through hands-on investigations,” said MOST Exhibits Project Manager Peter Plumley, Ph.D. “The program introduces them to scientific methodology and observation of the natural world. The experience gives them confidence to pursue STEM topics and independent research projects. Many go on to successfully compete in the Central New York Science & Engineering Fair, earning merit scholarships to the colleges of their choice.”
“Honeywell Summer Science Week has had real outcomes by inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers through a week of scientific investigation and experiments,” said Honeywell Syracuse Program Director John McAuliffe. “A recent survey shows that almost all respondents said they felt more knowledgeable about science. In addition, the vast majority reported feeling more confident about science, and nearly two-thirds said they were more interested in pursuing a science career.”
Honeywell Discovery Day
The students reunited one last time at the MOST on July 15 during Honeywell Discovery Day. They presented their research and heard from special guest Donald A. Thomas, Ph.D., a former NASA astronaut. Thomas spoke about his experiences in space and the importance of pursuing STEM. Students also watched a video from Congressman John M. Katko.
Left: Students present their research projects and discuss them with former NASA Astronaut Donald A. Thomas, Ph.D. Right: A student presents his ideas for green infrastructure projects to his parents on Honeywell Discovery Day
Students received completion certificates and became “MOST associates.” A MOST associate receives a one-year museum pass.
Local organizations and individuals that participated during the week include: Onondaga Audubon Society, U.S. Geological Survey, Anchor QEA, O’Brien & Gere, Onondaga County Department of Water Environment Protection, and faculty and graduate students from Syracuse University and SUNY-ESF. This unique aspect of the program exposes students, who are about to enter high school, to real scientists and university professors preparing them for future studies and possible STEM careers.
Honeywell Summer Science Week is sponsored by Honeywell Hometown Solutions, the company’s corporate citizenship initiative, which focuses on five areas of vital importance: Science & Math Education, Family Safety & Security, Housing & Shelter, Habitat & Conservation, and Humanitarian Relief. Together with leading public and non-profit institutions, Honeywell has developed powerful programs to address these needs in the communities it serves. For more information, please visit http://citizenship.honeywell.com/hometown-solutions.
For more information on the Onondaga Lake cleanup, please visit www.lakecleanup.com.
