Series about the Quantum Revolution of Education!

 Check out a 5-part series describing the gist of what I call the Quantum Revolution of Education. The idea is that we need a new MINDSET for students, which is actually inspired by Particle-Wave Duality found in quantum science! I call it the Quantum Mechanical Student. This is also the topic of my TED talk, which will be linked once published on the TED platform. 

The first episode is linked below, and links to the other 4 episodes are in the description of this video (must watch it on YouTube to see the description). Here are the links for convenience: 

Episode 2: Inspiration from particle-wave duality: https://youtu.be/MNfRYM2eawY Episode 3: Newtonian education - where we are and have been: https://youtu.be/SwG6oV4-VVA Episode 4: The Quantum Mechanical Student: https://youtu.be/OymOFEg8Jck Episode 5: What Quantum Education can look like: https://youtu.be/xL30Lhw9gt0

CONGRATULATIONS, CLASS OF 2022!!!

 Today the Class of 2022 officially graduated!! I am SO PROUD of each and every one of them I had in my classes, and it is such a talented, compassionate group who will do wonderful things in their futures!! While I'll miss them tremendously, I am also thrilled they have the chance to go into the world on their own terms and figure out what they want to do with their education and careers. All my best wishes to them, always!!

TEDxNorthwesternU conference article

 This is the Daily Northwestern article on the TEDx conference at NU on May 18. Just a few days afterward, this commentary article was published and distributed in the NSTA journal The Science Teacher, about the quantum mechanical student, a central theme and change in mindset for the TED talk. 

An inspiring scientist - Templeton Prize Award winner

 The Templeton Prize is given to inspirational people, in any field, who has helped humanity with big, fundamental questions and has inspired generations to improve the human condition. This year's winner is Frank Wilczek, a Nobel Prize winning physicist who thinks deeply about 'what it all means.' Get inspired in a few minutes of watching this announcement: 

CubeSat team places 2nd in nation!!

 Congratulations to our CubeSat team! They finished 2nd in the nation after the final presentations were given!! 

They were one of 20 teams selected from across the country to participate in the first CubeSat Challenge developed by the Beaver Works group at MIT, and one of 6 to be included in the final presentations at the national (online) conference. 

The team consisted of members: 

Connor McGuire, Luca Zerega, Rohil Bose, Meris Goldfarb, and William Comess. 

Nicely done! This was a highly technical project involving learning about, through online coursework, space science, satellite systems, electronics built around a Raspberry Pi and Bluetooth platform, and computer programming to make it all work. You can watch final presentations here. ETHS's begins around the 33:25 minute mark of the finals. 

JPL's Basics of Space Flight

 NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, JPL, is the nerve center for all space missions throughout the solar system. If you are interested in astronomy, aerospace or aeronautical engineering, space mechanics and dynamics, or just think it's a cool topic, their site for the basics of space flight is good and understandable to a high school student. Check it out! 

THIS is what EMPATHY Project is all about!!

 Our EMPATHY Project is our partnership with friends on the ground in Malawi, Africa. As one of the top 10 poorest countries on Earth, Malawians occasionally experience periods of hunger, and even famine (such as in 2014-15). In order to keep children fed and in school, we developed our model where schools purchase land and grow their own crops. We fundraise in Evanston in order to help fund this process. Here are results from the past few days...kids with food and water!! 

We're always open to and accepting donations. Relatively small numbers of US dollars can be a small fortune in Malawi. And, several more schools/villages want to adopt this model. Thank you to all who have helped over the last five years to make this happen!!

EARTH DAY: If only we could get everyone on the planet to watch this TED talk...

 If you can watch this video and still deny something weird is not going on with our planet, then I would likely conclude you have intellectual issues. A wonderful classic TED talk by James Balog, showing what is happening to the world's glaciers and ice sheets through time-lapse photography. Check it out. It is pretty convincing. Happy Earth Day, and let's never stop trying to make change for the health of our planet and future generations...

What is Quantum Science & Why Should we Care in K-12 education?

 I was honored to be asked to be on this panel and state webinar to discuss the importance of including more quantum science (QS) into K-12 education, especially in HS, if for any other reason to increase the exposure of students to QS. Keep in mind that the quantum revolution began 120 years ago!! This is NOT new material, and there is a lot we can do to improve awareness and some basic level of knowledge to young students so they have opportunities to participate and work in countless fields and industries that rely on QS. This is projected to be a trillion $ sector of the global economy in the near future, and we are already short on the workforce. 

The webinar was recorded on World Quantum Day, April 14, and run by the Illinois Department of Innovation & Technology - thank you for the invitation! Here's a quick quantum introduction! 

Earth Day 2022 on Friday, April 22

 Earth Day is on Friday, April 22. Consider the U.N. SDGs again - are there little things you can do this week, and then perhaps every week, to help. Reducing time in the shower. Recycling. Turning lights and other electrical devices/appliances off. Composting food waste. Buying food you need, and reducing food waste and excess. Put some plants in the ground. Pick up litter in the neighborhood. Donate to and/or volunteer at a favorite organization doing good work. Post these types of actions on your social media platforms, encourage others to do the same (remember the multiplier effect on impact!). Be kind, compassionate and empathetic to others, while being grateful and respectful for what we have in our lives compared to most on the planet. 

Thanks for considering!! This is the only home we have, let's respect it and take care of it, always.