PUMA Trenton - Week Three
In this final week of PUMA Trenton, students participate in fun games
and challenges to review concepts learned in the preceding weeks. Teams
of students also prepare slides on Power Point to present the material
they learned this summer to their peers and the Princeton University community
on the last day of the PUMA session.
“In Your Face”: Review
In this game, students challenge each other to recall and explain concepts
and vocabulary learned in the PUMA session. Any question is fair game,
and these Trenton students were tough competitors to make for an exciting
challenge this year.
Atomic Force Microscope: Image Simulation
Instructor Pete Gange uses a flexible, plastic ruler with a mirror attached
to its tip to simulate for PUMA students how an AFM creates an image of
a sample’s surface. Mr. Gange points a laser at the mirror and the
beam deflects onto a wall. Mr. Gange runs the ruler tip along the surface
of different Beanie Babies. Students observe the deflection of the laser
on a wall and try to guess the shape of the Beanie Baby by profile of
the laser beam.
Scientist Jane Woodruff leads a hands-on operational training session on the SEM. Students learn sample loading and preparation and how to manipulate the electron gun and change magnification to create a focused image. Students observe three samples: a MEMS, fruit fly, and diatoms (microscopic marine organisms with beautiful, intricate patterns to observe). Each student took two photographs of the images they created, so everyone got a pretty cool photo to remember their training.
Students assemble a Lego robot with a light sensor and visually program the robot to drive into a cardboard box “tunnel”, sense the change in light, and reverse out of the tunnel. Programming the highly sensitive sensor proves difficult. Students work in teams and use their problem-solving abilities to tackle this task. PCCM Assistant director Professor Rick Register assists students in the Tunnel Challenge. Unfortunately scheduling complications caused this exercise to run short, but one group was successful!
Instructor Ellen Weckenbrock of the New Jersey Department of Personnel volunteered her time to introduce the Power Point application to Trenton students. Ms. Weckenbrock helps them design, organize, and streamline slides for their presentations.
Wrap-up Day
The last day begins with student power point presentations. The students put superb effort into their slides, and each group gave clear and detailed descriptions of the science they learned and participated in this summer at PUMA.
