TOURS

We have organized tours of the Computer History Museum, the Stanford Linear Accelerator (SLAC), Lawrence Livermore National Lab (LLNL)  and the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab Advanced Light Source (ALS).  If you would like to join us on our next tour contact Eugene Xu,

In the meantime, visit the SLAC Virtual Tour website  for a preview and map to SLAC. 

AVS SCIENCE EDUCATORS’ WORKSHOP
October 31-November 1, 2011
Nashville, Tennessee

The Northern California Chapter AVS (NCCAVS) Education Committee is sponsoring an all expenses paid trip, including the cost of a substitute teacher, to the Science Educators’ Workshop (SEW) on Vacuum Technology and Physics at the 58th AVS International Symposium & Exhibition, October 31-November 1 in Nashville, Tennessee.  This workshop is for middle- to high-school level science teachers.  See details in the attached flier.

The NCCAVS Education Committee will select 2 science teachers within the local chapter area to send to the workshop.  At the end of the two day program, a vacuum equipment grant, worth over $1,200, will be provided to obtain a vacuum pump and chamber for your school’s science classes.

To apply for the 2011 Workshop, contact Heather Korff, e-mail Heather@avs.org or call (530) 896-0477, or click here to download an application form. The deadline to submit an application is May 13, 2011. The last workshop was in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  Here are pictures from the event

Web Sites for SCIENCE TEACHERS 

The Bell Jar –"The World of Amateur Vacuum" Lots of hints for low-cost experiments and demonstrations. 
Nanoworld For Kids -University of Wisconsin.
San Francisco Exploratorium 
San Jose Tech Museum of Innovation 
Life, the Universe and Everything – jazzy animations, and activities for the classroom. 
Delights of Chemistry - Univ. of Leeds (England).
Brainpop – Animations on science, technology, and health for 5th to 8th grade. 
Optics for Kids – for 6- to 12-year-olds.

AVS Vacuum History Timeline (short version)

Be a SCIENCE FAIR advisor or judge! 

Each year the NCCAVS awards prizes for outstanding physical science entries at the San Mateo County Science Fair, the Tri-Valley regional Science Fair,  the Synopsys Santa Clara Valley Science Fair, and the Chico Science Fair. The judging criteria is defined here.

The school and regional Science Fair season is January-April. Volunteer to be a Science Fair judge in your area.  Our coordinator is Sabir Majumder.

Find out more at these sites: 

Tri-Valley Science Fair (East Bay)
San Mateo County Science Fair 
San Francisco Bay Area Science Fair
Santa Clara Valley Science Fair (Synopsys)

Synopsys Silicon Valley Science & Technology Championship
Santa Cruz Science Fair

Contra Costa County Science Fair (Concord)
Chico Science Fair

Sonoma County Science Fair

Science in Action (click here for more information)

The Science in Action program provides a free one period session of demos and experiments in Science, for grades K through 12 in our schools.  Our Presenter brings in the vacuum apparatus, to conduct the program in the individual teacher’s classroom.  In our first school year of providing this program in 2008/2009, we have worked with over 3800 students in the San Francisco Bay Area. Our intention is to pique the interest of the students in Science, and demystify some of the words of Science, such as atmospheric pressure, vaporization, gas expansion, etc. 

For the past four years we have presented vacuum workshops at the annual California Science Teachers Association Conference (above). We will again participate at the CSTA Conference in Sacramento, CA, Oct 21, 2011. Handouts from the Oct 2010 presentation

More Opportunities For Science Educators

IISME – Industry Initiatives for Science and Math Education. Summer fellowships for K-12 teachers in the SF Bay Area. 

California Science Project 
Industry Initiatives for Science and Math Education. Summer fellowships for K-12 teachers in the SF Bay Area. 

Useful links: Vacuum & pressure gauges, Balston Oil mist filters, Gas balast Oil sealed pump information, Pressure at different altitudes, Pressure conversion table

Each Spring we participate in Expanding Your Horizons (EYH) science workshops for young women in 6th grade through high school. This year we made presentations at the Tri-Valley EYH Workshop (San Ramon), the San Jose State University workshop, and  the Skyline College Workshop. The  pictures above and below are from the 2004 and 2005 workshops at San Jose and Skyline. If you are female and would like volunteer to participate please contact Kathy Arnold, kvarnold.avs@gmail.com. 

Workshop Demonstrations 

Below are handouts that describe some of  the CSTA and EYH demonstrations and experiments. The documents  include a list of equipment and materials, the procedure, and supplemental information.  Click on the image to download the PDF file.

Low cost hand held vacuum pump demonstrations

Simple Vacuum Demonstrations with syringe

"Trash Bag Hug"

Low-cost Vacuum Experiments (360 kB)

Bargain Basement Lung Demonstration
 

Is There Sound in a Vacuum? (148 kB) 

Strange Effects in a Vacuum (391 kB) 

Triple Point Experiment (296 kB) 

Science Teachers -- 
Do you have a vacuum pump that needs service? 
Get some helpful hints and a list of vendors who offer discounted services. Click on pump image to download the PumpHelp PDF file.  
 

The NCCAVS Education Committee is composed of volunteers with an interest in promoting vacuum science education at all levels.  Members come from a variety of vacuum-related backgrounds and experiences. 

Join Us! 
This is your invitation to participate.  Even if you can only help with one or two projects a year you can contribute to decisions affecting the 150,000 square-mile Chapter area. Join us at our next Education Committee Meeting in Santa Clara. For directions, date and time, contact Randy Mundt, mundt1@comcast.net, Acting Education Committee Chair, or Heather Korff, heather@avs.org, or call (530) 896-0477.