GiST Workshops

From previous GiSTs. Due to the number of students that enroll in our program, we cannot take requests to participate in any particular workshops. Thank you for understanding!

 

Exploring Visual World via Artificial Intelligence: Led by Computer Science professor Zhengming Ding

This workshop will show young students popular AI applications in visual world to attract them, such as "Google Lens", "Amazon Go", "Building Rome in a Day", "Interactive Games" and "Humanoid Robots". Those topics will be discussed in AI demos and storytelling.

 

Exploring the nervous system: Led by the School of Science and Engineering's student Valerie Warkins

Kids will get the opportunity to look at and touch a real human brain. Specimens are courtesy of the Brain Institute. Fun facts about the brain will also be shared, catered to the age group.

 

Lava Lamps: Led by the School of Science and Engineering's student Rachel Tabor

Making lava lamps with Alka Seltzers, highlighting how water and oil do not mix.

 

Monkey flower Mayhem: Led by Lab Research Technician from the department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Diana Tataru, and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology graduate student Whitney Murchison

We will be looking at leaves and flowers in monkey flowers and other plants and studying their function and floral traits.

 

Glass Recycling to restore the Coast: Led by the School of Science and Engineering’s professor Katie Russell

Join faculty from the Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering Department for an engineering design challenge and learn how recycled glass sand is being used to combat land loss on the Louisiana coast.

 

Rethink Your Drink! /An Apple A D(ec)ay: Led by Neuroscience student Naseem Azadi and Dental Department Chief of Children's Hospital, Suzanne Fournier

2 mini workshops: one for learning about how cavities are formed/prevented ("An Apple A D(ec)ay"), while the other is learning about the effects of sugary and acidic drinks on your teeth ("Rethink What you Drink!")

 

Homopolar Motor: Led by Physics professor Nick Sparks

Students will build their own Homopolar motors and learn about how they work.

 

The Story of Materials "From Atoms to the Batteries in your Toys or Devices": Led by Assistant Professor of Physics Michael Naguib and graduate student Ahmad Majed

Kids will learn about the different types of materials and their properties.

 

Chemistry Mystery: Led by Department of Chemistry Graduate student Sithara Nawagamuwage and Md Muhaiminul Islam

Fun and simple chemical experiments with explanations.

 

Optical Cloaking Device: Led by Department of Physics Professor Jessica Garber.

Students will learn how lenses work, and build a cloaking device to let you see through

 

NASA ASTRO CAMP® Collaborative Partners Program: Engaging students in Authentic Learning Opportunities: Led by Rebekah Yarbrough and Christopher Sherman

The NASA ACCP program is focused on inspiring youth to explore the realms of Space and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, STEM, through authentic NASA STEM experiences. NASA education specialists invite students to engage in an interactive, hands-on session incorporating NASA science selected activities from the Earth Science missions.

 

Grab the last Bean: Led by The Department of Math's Graduate students Kendall Gibson and Will Tran

This workshop teaches logic with a two-player game. The goal of the game is to take the last bean from a pile of beans. The number of beans and the rules for taking beans are determined by the players ahead of time but can change from game to game.

 

Visualizing Materials: Led by Materials Physics and Engineering Graduate students Akilan Ramasamy and Jorge Vega

Setting up simple calculations and visualizations of materials at microscopic level.

 

How Plants Breathe and are Born: Led by Cell and Molecular Biology Professor Christian Burr

In this workshop we will explore plant life. We'll use microscopes to explore plant leaves, to learn about how they breathe and to explore seeds and seedlings. We'll learn about different cells and tissue types in plants and their importance in plant development and life.

 

The Algorithm Experience: Led by Computer Science Professor Maarten Loffler

We introduce the Algorithm Experience as a way for human beings to feel how a computer works, and to get a feeling for the notion of computational efficiency by experiencing it first-hand. Essentially, the idea is simple: execute multiple algorithms that achieve the same result, by hand, on the same small input. By doing so, you will notice that one can get the same result in different ways, and that some ways take longer than others.

 

Periscopes: Led by Physics Professor Fred Wietfeldt

Periscopes and telescopes are optical tools that bring power to our eyes. But how do they work? In this workshop we will build and test periscopes and telescopes and explore the principles behind them.

 

Birds of a Feather: Led by Environmental Biology Graduate students Mike Ellis and Luke Anderson

Explore adaptation and natural selection of birds with study specimens and employ ornithological techniques to study and identify birds in the field.

 

Missing Tooth: Led by Earth and Environmental Science Professor Jeff Agnew

Discover fossils of shark teeth, whale bones, and marine invertebrates in 5-million-year-old sediments from Florida.