The Akron Global Polymer Academy is persevering in its mission to provide exciting opportunities for students to experience polymers through hands-on activities and expanding outreach. Recently, AGPA visited GlenOak High School. Particularly, they visited the school’s science club that has organized a Junior Polymer Ambassadors group that will be helping run a polymer STEM day for Oakwood Middle School. The science club is advised by biology teacher, Dori Hess, who participated in the NSF funded Research Experience for Teachers in Polymer Engineering at UA in 2014 and 2015, doing medical research.
During AGPA’s visit to GlenOak, four CPSPE graduate students spoke to the high school students about their route to The University of Akron and how they became involved in the PhD program. The graduate students were thrilled to share their experience with the high school students. “I think my favorite thing about the visit was getting questions from the students. It was great seeing them get excited about the possibility of going to college or even grad school for a science degree!” said Megan Cruz. Another graduate student, Brittany Pellegrene said, “It was great to see that so many students were involved in the science club and were interested in pursuing higher education in the sciences”.
AGPA even scheduled another visit to GlenOak’s science club to work on “spooky science” to further engage the students while incorporating even more excitement. The students made their own version of “Dippin’ Dots” ice cream by dripping melted ice cream into cups of liquid nitrogen. “Liquid nitrogen is dangerous at times, too much can lead to frost bite, but it sure is fun to eat!” said student Sydni Porter. They also “froze” mini marshmallows and cheese puffs, which they were able to eat and use the smoke to imitate dragons. “It was a neat experience” said student Clay Hawkins.