Have you ever calculated the speed of light by microwaving chocolate? Or sent a Morse code message with a laser?
These experiments are just the beginning of the fun to be had at the Optical Science Discovery Camp, a camp organized by the Oregon Center for Optics for grades six to 12.
Meeting every day this week from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the camp is designed to introduce young students to the concept of optics – an area of physics that studies the properties of light.
“Students are able to explore on their own,” said Shannon O’Leary, a physics graduate student who helps lead the camp’s classroom projects. “You kind of want to lead them, but when they learn things on their own, it makes it more meaningful.”
The camp emphasizes hands-on learning where students learn about geometric optics, such as lenses and prisms, and imagery used in camera technology. They also explore fiber optics and diffraction using lasers as well as the solar energy concepts. The camp utilizes state-of-the-art laser and research equipment housed in the Materials Science Institute in Willamette Hall.
O’Leary is part of the University’s GK12 Science Outreach Program which aims to improve the science and math programs in Oregon schools.
“(The program) encourages teachers to do more hands-on science in the classroom,” O’Leary said. “They learn a lot more that way.”
Eleven-year-old Nathan Shepherd, one of the camp’s 15 students, will attend Crow Middle School next year. “It’s really neat to mess with stuff – taking stuff apart and make different things,” Shepherd said. “I want to be an engineer; I like math.”
Shepherd said his favorite activity they have done thus far is working with Jell-O to learn about the diffraction of light. “I liked bending the light; that was pretty awesome.”
Brandy Todd, research administrator for OCO, hopes this camp spurs more scientific literacy in elementary education. “It’s been pretty hectic so far, but it’s going pretty well,” Todd said. “They really like the explosions.”
Also running the camp is physics associate professor Miriam Deutsch and OCO Director Hailin Wang.
“This is the first time we’ve done this camp,” Deutsch said. “I really enjoy it. I have kids and I just really like to teach.”
The camp, and the University’s Summer Academy to Inspire Learning, have an additional emphasis on the opportunities available to underprivileged students. “We want the kids to know that they can go to school and get paid to go to school,” Deutsch said. “We seek kids who come from lower incomes but who have potential.”
The week-long camp will end with a financial aid speaker who will inform the campers about options available in financing their education.
The camp is rather competitive, only accepting 15 participants. The application process includes an essay on what makes one a good candidate and has an optional letter of recommendation from a science teacher.
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