Event follows Honeywell Summer Science Week at the MOST; students review results of sampling collected throughout the summer
Middle school scientists from Tully, Syracuse City, West Genesee and Solvay Central school districts reunited Saturday at the Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science & Technology (MOST) for Discovery Day to present their research on bug diversity, New York state geology, and water quality in the Onondaga Lake Watershed to families and teachers. The 2008 Honeywell Summer Science Week, held July 14-18, was the largest to date.
 Shelby Hemler shows his mother the diversity of insects he observed during his week as a scientist. |
 Students reunite for a day of scientific fun with friends and family during Discovery Day. |
“It is very exciting to see how passionate and knowledgeable the students are about science and the Onondaga Lake Watershed,” said Honeywell Syracuse Program Director John McAuliffe. “Honeywell Summer Science Week at the MOST is part of Honeywell Hometown Solutions’ commitment to create life-changing opportunities—one teacher, one student, one classroom and one community at a time.”
“Discovery Day is very encouraging because it demonstrates that the students have retained not only the information, but the excitement of the subject matter from their week as scientists,” said Dr. Peter Plumley, exhibits project manager at the MOST. “Their passion for the environment and science makes me confident they will be our future leaders in these fields.”
From plant and water life found in Onondaga Creek to local fossils found at Clark Reservation, the students discussed a variety of local environmental and scientific topics.
 Students give short lessons on water chemistry, macro invertebrates and insect biodiversity. |
 SUNY-ESF graduate student and Summer Science Week instructor Karla Hyde uses a watershed model to demonstrate the effect of water runoff. |
 Salina Fasulo tells her father how she used GPS receivers to perform geocaching. |
 Emily Papini tells her father about New York state geology and the fossils she examined at Clark Reservation. |
 Tirzah Smith discusses a gradient analysis from the Tully headwaters to Onondaga Lake with her brother and mother. |
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SUNY-ESF graduate students and Summer Science Week instructors Byron Norelius and Karla Hyde discussed how water samples were collected throughout the week. Over the summer, the students used multiprobes to measure water quality parameters like temperature, pH and conductivity levels. Samples were examined at the Center for Environmental Systems Engineering at Syracuse University under the direction of Distinguished Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering Charlie Driscoll. Water quality was plotted and recorded, allowing students to see how the elements varied at the different sites. Students also reviewed how their data compared to last year’s Summer Science Week data.
 SUNY-ESF graduate student and Honeywell Summer Science Week instructor Byron Norelius introduces his team and sets the stage for the students to present their data to families and teachers. |
 Honeywell thanks the MOST for its hard work and partnership. |
The MOST gave each student a MOST Associate Pass for one year of free access to the museum and to more than 150 science museums across the country.
Discovery Day students display their MOST Associate Passes.
This was the third annual Discovery Day and Honeywell Summer Science Week at the MOST. Created by the MOST in 2006, the program enables students to investigate the Onondaga Lake Watershed first hand. Students travel to various locations from the Tully Valley to Onondaga Lake, and learn from scientists, engineers and professors about water quality and the environment. Honeywell Summer Science Week at the MOST and Discovery Day are made possible by a generous grant from Honeywell Hometown Solutions, the company’s corporate giving and community involvement initiative.
For more information on the Onondaga Lake cleanup, visit www.onondaga-lake-initiatives.com.
