Tag: Science

Exploring Your Science Passion: Science Day 2023 at UL at Lafayette

Are you a high school student curious about the fascinating world of science and its myriad possibilities? Well, you’re in luck! The University of Louisiana at Lafayette is gearing up to host Science Day 2023, an enlightening event that will give you a sneak peek into the life of a science major at their esteemed Ray P. Authement College of Sciences. Sponsored by Halliburton, this event promises to be an incredible journey into the realm of science, offering a plethora of enriching experiences for high school seniors and juniors, parents, teachers, and guidance counselors, according to this news release from the school.

Science Day 2023 is designed to provide an immersive experience in the world of science. Attendees will have the opportunity to witness captivating laboratory experiments and cutting-edge research and technology demonstrations. Moreover, they will be treated to enlightening presentations in various scientific disciplines, including biology, chemistry, computer science, informatics, geology, environmental science, mathematics, and physics.

But that’s not all; Science Day goes beyond just theoretical knowledge. It’s about fostering a genuine connection between aspiring scientists and the academic and professional world. Participants will have the chance to interact withUL Lafayette’s esteemed faculty and staff members, engage with passionate students, and network with industry professionals. This unique blend of experiences will provide invaluable insights into courses, degree programs, research opportunities, student organizations, and potential career paths associated with different scientific disciplines.

One of the highlights of Science Day is the exclusive tour of the College of Sciences‘ state-of-the-art facilities. These tours will offer a glimpse into the world of academia and research, allowing you to envision yourself as a part of this dynamic community. Additionally, there will be a thought-provoking question and answer session with UL Lafayette alumni who have successfully forged careers in various science-related fields. Their stories and advice will inspire and guide you on your own journey.

Dr. Michael Totaro, an associate professor in the School of Computing and Informatics and the graduate coordinator for the school’s Informatics Master’s Degree program, emphasized the significance of Science Day. He stated that the event is meticulously structured to instill “a sense of excitement about science, its possibilities, and its capacity for exploration and discovery.” Dr. Totaro also highlighted that Science Day plays a crucial role in assisting students in understanding the processes and programs that facilitate a seamless transition from high school to university life.These encompass essential aspects like admissions, housing, financial aid, and scholarships.

To give a more detailed understanding of what awaits you at Science Day 2023, let’s break down some of the key activities and features:

  • “A Day in the Life”: Students will get to experience a typical day in the life of a science major. This will involve up-close and personal laboratory demonstrations and engaging presentations in various scientific fields, such as Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science and Informatics, Geology and Environmental Science, Mathematics, and Physics.
  • Connecting with the Community: Science Day offers the opportunity to connect with students’ future College of Sciences peers, faculty members, and staff. This is a chance to gain insights into classes, student organizations, research opportunities, and more.
  • Navigating the University World: Wondering about admissions, dual enrollment, financial aid, housing, or scholarships? Science Day provides a platform to interact with university personnel who can provide answers to all questions and help students plan their academic journey.
  • Building Your Future: The event also brings you face-to-face with potential employers and representatives from UL Lafayette Career Services. This will be invaluable in helping students start planning their future career path.

Science Day 2023, sponsored by Halliburton, is an extraordinary opportunity for high school juniors and seniors to explore their passion for science. It’s a day filled with discovery, learning, and inspiration. Best of all, there is no admission charge, and the event is open to the public.

For more education-related information, click here.

LSU’s BRBytes Increases Computer Science Access for K-12 Students

According to the Louisiana State University Office of Research and Economic Development, all professions in Louisiana requiring an adept knowledge of computer science and mathematical skills are expected to see immense growth over the next decade. With this trend, it’s becoming increasingly more and more important for students to be given the opportunity to study computer science before entering high school or at the very least be given a chance to learn about such career fields.

Luckily, that’s where the LSU team behind BRBytes is working to address that educational gap, and according to this research article published by the University as a part of 2021’s Computer Science Education Week, more Louisiana students in grades K-12 will be given this very chance by summer 2022.

Recently, LSU’s BRBytes has been growing rapidly and thus has committed to expanding their total program to elementary students in the East Baton Rouge Parish School System. This means that by Summer 2022, an additional 3,000 students from kindergarten through 6th grade will be taught about opportunities in computer science learning and careers. BRBytes has stated that they will first focus on bringing this equitable access to traditionally underserved elementary schools in which the large majority of students may come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds or are underrepresented minorities.

In speaking on this expansion of the BRBytes program that doubles its capacity, Rose Kendrick, BRBytes program manager for LSU stated, “this expansion into lower grades connects with what we were already doing in middle schools and high schools. We were already planning and doing activities with younger siblings at family nights and such events in schools, so now we’re building on that to provide younger students with opportunities to learn about computer science in a fun and informal way, which will help us build toward bigger enrollments in later years, once those students reach middle school and high school.”

BRBytes is an LSU-sponsored organization that is a part of the national movement known as CSforALL, in which over a hundred diverse member organizations collaborate to raise awareness about computer science education and careers. This is accomplished by organizing more learning and teaching opportunities in public school systems across the United States. CSforALL’s mission reads that they aim “to make high-quality computer science an integral part of the educational experience of all K-12 students and teachers and to support student pathways to college and career success.”

What started as a computer science education initiative serving only a single parish had grown exponentially between 2018 and 2019 to 8 parishes, then to 14 parishes by fall 2020, and BRBytes is now currently active and operating in 22 parishes across Louisiana. In just 2021 alone, the program had doubled its number of enrolled students from 2,000 to 4,000 and had trained an additional 80 middle and high school teachers in summer 2021.

Juana Moreno is the team leader for BRBytes and a professor in the LSU Department of Physics and Astronomy with a joint appointment in the LSU Center for Computation & Technology. When speaking to LSU press, he emphasized the massive importance of building such close partnerships with schools and expanding their teacher trainings and professional developments so that educators can teach students about how to use technology and other resources such as computational thinking skills in order to access more advanced knowledge.

Professor Moreno remarked that if the program is truly striving for a more diverse workforce in computing, then the central aim has to go beyond only giving students access to cool tools. In speaking about BRBytes, he said, “we all know and understand the need for more computer science education, and while it’s great to give kids their own Chromebook, for example, there also has to be a teacher there to teach them how to use them. It’s generally easier to hand out tools than to train people, and that’s why we’re committed to expanding BRBytes to help more students, schools, and teachers.”

For more education-related information, click here.