Physics of Flight Career Corner

The allure of the skies has captivated human imagination for centuries, and the modern marvel of airplanes has made this dream a reality. From designing and engineering these complex machines to ensuring their safe operation and navigation, the world of aviation offers a plethora of exhilarating career opportunities.

Here are just some of the careers that will take you to the skies!

Aerospace Engineer

Aerospace engineers are the masterminds behind the creation of airplanes. They design, develop, and test aircraft to ensure they meet safety and performance standards. These professionals work on a range of aspects, from aerodynamics and propulsion systems to materials science and structural integrity. Their work contributes to the cutting-edge innovations that shape the aviation industry, pushing the boundaries of what's possible in flight.

Pilot

Pilots are the visible face of aviation, responsible for safely flying airplanes and ensuring the smooth operation of flights. Becoming a pilot requires extensive training, including flight school and simulator experience. A pilot conducts pre-flight inspections of the aircraft, reviewing flight plans and weather conditions, and making decisions regarding the route and altitude during the flight. They monitor fuel levels and engine performance, and maintain communication with air traffic control.

Aircraft Mechanic

Aircraft mechanics, also known as aircraft maintenance technicians, are responsible for inspecting, repairing, and maintaining airplanes. Their meticulous work ensures that aircraft are safe, reliable, and meet regulatory standards. From routine maintenance checks to complex repairs, aircraft mechanics play a vital role in keeping planes in peak condition.

AIRCRAFT DESIGNER

Aircraft designers are responsible for conceptualizing, creating, and developing the designs of various types of aircraft, ranging from commercial airplanes and military jets to helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles (drones). They ensure that the aircraft designs meet all necessary safety and quality standards through rigorous conceptualizing and testing. Their work is critical to the aviation industry as it lays the foundation for the construction of safe, efficient, and high-performing aircraft.

Aerospace Research Scientist

Aerospace research scientists delve into the realms of science and technology to develop new innovations for the aviation industry. Whether it's designing more fuel-efficient engines, developing advanced navigation systems, or exploring cutting-edge materials, these professionals are at the forefront of driving progress in aviation technology.

Interested in learning more? Join us for Physics of Flight this Labor Day weekend to experience fun hands-on activities inspired by the principles of aviation!

What is hugelkultur?

In the realm of sustainable gardening practices, hugelkultur stands as a shining example of nature-inspired innovation. This ancient method, originating in Eastern Europe, has gained renewed interest among eco-conscious gardeners and homesteaders around the world. Hugelkultur, which translates to "hill culture" or "mound culture," involves creating raised garden beds using a combination of organic materials, fostering a self-sustaining and nutrient-rich environment for plants to thrive. Let's delve into the fascinating world of hugelkultur gardening and uncover its numerous benefits.

Building the Foundation: How Hugelkultur Works

At its core, hugelkultur revolves around the concept of utilizing decaying wood and organic matter to create a nutrient-dense growing medium. Gardeners begin by layering logs, branches, and woody debris at the bottom of a raised bed. These materials not only form a solid foundation but also act as a sponge, soaking up moisture and gradually releasing it to the plants above. This natural water retention system reduces the need for frequent watering, making hugelkultur an ideal choice for arid climates or water-conscious gardeners.

Above the woody base, layers of leaves, grass clippings, straw, compost, and soil are added, creating a gradual transition from coarse to fine organic matter. As these materials break down over time, they release essential nutrients into the soil, providing a steady supply of nourishment to plants. This organic decomposition also generates heat, which can extend the growing season and potentially offer protection against frost.

Source: Vego Garden

The Benefits of Hugelkultur Gardening

1. Water Efficiency: Hugelkultur beds excel in water conservation due to their inherent ability to retain moisture. The woody base acts like a reservoir, slowly releasing water to plant roots as needed. This characteristic reduces water consumption and minimizes the risk of waterlogged soil.

2. Nutrient Richness: As the organic materials decompose, they enrich the soil with essential nutrients, creating a fertile and vibrant environment for plant growth. This natural fertilization process reduces the reliance on synthetic fertilizers.

3. Improved Soil Structure: Hugelkultur promotes healthy soil structure by enhancing aeration, drainage, and microbial activity. The gradual breakdown of organic matter encourages the development of beneficial microorganisms, which contribute to overall soil health.

4. Low Maintenance: Once established, hugelkultur beds require minimal maintenance. The self-sustaining nature of the system means less frequent watering, weeding, and fertilization, allowing gardeners to enjoy the fruits of their labor with reduced effort.

5. Biodiversity: Hugelkultur beds create diverse microenvironments, attracting a variety of insects and beneficial organisms. This biodiversity can contribute to natural pest control and pollination.

6. Longevity: Hugelkultur beds have the potential to remain productive for several years, gradually breaking down and renewing themselves over time. This longevity makes them a practical and sustainable gardening option.

Embracing an Ancient Wisdom

Hugelkultur gardening is a testament to the ingenuity of nature-inspired practices. By mimicking natural processes and harnessing the power of organic decomposition, gardeners can cultivate thriving and resilient ecosystems. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or a novice with a passion for sustainability, hugelkultur offers a unique and rewarding way to connect with the land, promote biodiversity, and nurture a greener future—one mound of soil at a time.

See an example of hugelkultur up close at the Science Mill Food Forest exhibit, opening this Saturday, August 19!

How science museums complement classroom education

As the back-to-school season approaches, educators and parents are on the lookout for engaging and enriching experiences to ignite students' curiosity and passion for learning. One such treasure trove of knowledge and wonder is the science museum. Far beyond its exhibits and artifacts, a science museum like the Science Mill in Johnson City serves as a powerful platform for hands-on learning, paving the way for an unforgettable educational journey.

Experiential Learning: Learning by Doing

In the traditional classroom setting, students often consume information passively, leading to reduced retention and a lack of genuine interest in the subject matter. Science museums turn this approach on its head by promoting experiential learning – the process of acquiring knowledge through direct engagement with the subject. From interactive exhibits to immersive workshops, students get the chance to touch, feel, and experiment, transforming them from passive observers to active participants in their own education.

Bridging the Gap between Theory and Application

One of the most significant challenges faced by educators is bridging the gap between theoretical concepts and real-world applications. Science museums address this issue with exhibits designed to showcase the practical applications of scientific principles. Students can witness the laws of physics in action through interactive displays, experience the thrill of chemistry through hands-on experiments, and understand the intricacies of biology by observing live demonstrations. By experiencing science in action, students can better understand how theoretical knowledge translates into tangible results.

Fostering a Growth Mindset

A growth mindset is the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication and hard work. Science museums play a vital role in fostering this mindset by encouraging students to embrace challenges and learn from their mistakes. Hands-on activities often involve trial and error, enabling students to see failure not as a setback but as an opportunity for growth and improvement. This positive outlook on learning extends beyond the museum walls and influences their approach to academic challenges in school.

Igniting Curiosity and Passion for STEM

Curiosity is the driving force behind scientific inquiry and discovery. Science museums understand this and leverage interactive exhibits to pique students' curiosity about the natural world. By allowing them to explore and investigate at their own pace, the museum creates an environment where questions are encouraged and answers are sought. This sense of wonder can have a profound impact on a student's passion for science, potentially inspiring future scientists, engineers, and innovators.

Creating Lasting Memories and Meaningful Connections

Hands-on learning experiences at the science museum create lasting memories for students. These memories are often associated with feelings of excitement, awe, and fascination. When students associate positive emotions with scientific concepts, they are more likely to retain the information and develop a genuine interest in the subject matter. Additionally, science museums offer a unique opportunity for families and friends to bond over shared learning experiences, further reinforcing the joy of discovery.

Supporting Diverse Learning Styles

Every student learns differently, and science museums embrace this diversity by offering a range of hands-on experiences. Whether a student is a visual learner, an auditory learner, or a kinesthetic learner, they can find exhibits that cater to their preferred learning style. This inclusivity ensures that all students can actively engage with the content and feel a sense of accomplishment in their understanding of complex scientific concepts.

As students gear up to embark on a new academic year, the value of hands-on learning experiences at the science museum cannot be overstated. The interactive exhibits, workshops, and demonstrations provide a unique and powerful platform for igniting curiosity, nurturing a passion for science, and supporting diverse learning styles. By complementing traditional classroom education with immersive, experiential learning, science museums play a crucial role in preparing the next generation of critical thinkers, problem solvers, and innovators who will shape the future of our world.

So, even as the school season returns in full swing, don’t forget to make space for museum trips, such as to the Science Mill! Visit us today for a gateway to a world of wonder and discovery!

Lights, Diffraction, ACTION!

The light from the sun is what gives life to everything on this planet, yet it is not as simple as it seems. Light is a FUNdamental source of energy that beguiles and attracts students like moths to a flame. Light behaves in so many different ways: transmission, absorption, reflection, refraction, diffraction, scattering, polarization and interference. All these variations make a simple source of light a very complex physics concept for any student to absorb. At the Science Mill, we focus on making these “invisible” scientific concepts visible to all learners - young and old alike.

-Amber Middlebrook, Director of Education Partnerships

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Light Loom

Our new Light Loom exhibit challenges us to take action and play with light and colors in a whole new way.

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When the Science Mill wanted to commission a new exhibit to occupy one of the former grain mill’s six iconic silos, the museum faced some challenges. “Our silos are a coveted space,” says Bradley Gray, the Science Mill’s Director of Museum Experience. “We didn’t quite know how to capitalize on the height and use the space to its fullest extent” Founder & Board Chair, Bonnie Baskin reached out to Brooklyn-based interaction design company Patten Studio, where Art Director and trained lighting designer Hortense Duthilleux proposed an artwork that turned out to be the perfect fit for the silo.

Light Loom is an interactive kinetic sculpture that teaches children about the properties of additive color.

A rope is anchored to the ceiling of a renovated grain silo. A motor at the base churns the rope, forming a physical wave. Red, green, and blue LEDs illuminate the sculpture from below, combining to bathe Light Loom in white light. As the rope passes through the light, a “persistence of vision” optical illusion splits the white light up into its constitutive colored beams. The primary colors of light: red, green, and blue—but also the secondary colors: cyan, yellow, and magenta—separate out from one another in bands.

“We thought that this would be a really cool way to teach kids about the concept of additive color,” shares Hortense Duthilleux, Patten Studio’s Art Director. “Kids learn about subtractive color at a very young age. This is the color wheel you are taught in art class, which teaches you about what happens with color when it is being reflected and absorbed by something physical. Additive color refers to how different wavelengths of pure light behave when they are not being reflected or absorbed by anything. It’s the exact opposite!”

“The utilization of the silo for this exhibit is phenomenal,” Gray shares. “From top to bottom you have color change at a level that I don’t think most folks have really seen before. Watching the light be separated by value is quite the experience, and to see that happen in real time . . . is truly a beautiful blend of art and science.”

Light Loom is engaged through a touch-free console. By interacting with the different colored optical sensors on the console, visitors dim either red, green, or blue light, forming different additive color combinations. Through play, visitors discover that red and green form yellow, red and blue form magenta, blue and green form cyan, and white light is produced when all three primary colors coincide.

“What is very exciting with this installation is that it allows people to create their own mix of color,” Duthilleux says. “That gives them the opportunity to learn about additive color through a process of play and discovery.”

The Science Mill and Patten Studio share a commitment to interactivity. “We want guests to take away a hands-on experience that is memorable and allows guests to have an ‘aha’ moment,” Gray adds. “Light Loom is meeting the interactive mark. It’s also quite innovative. There’s nothing quite like it at the museum. Our guests are allowed to be hands-on with the artwork without physically touching it, which is very important in this day and age.

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Meet the Creative Team behind the Light Loom Exhibit Design:

Hortense Duthilleux & James Patten of Patten Studio

Hortense Duthilleux

Art Director, Patten Studio

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I am Hortense Duthilleus. I am a French artist and designer mainly working in the field of interactive light art. I am also the Art Director at Patten Studio. I create interactive art installations for museums and for brands, essentially trying to create interactive experiences that inspire others and give them a moment of wow!

What was your journey into your current field?

My journey into art, science, and also engineering and technology started in Paris, France, where I am from. I started to study art and study textile design, which is where I fell in love with colors and experimentation with materials. That journey continued into my Masters degree in London where [I studied] material exploration called “Material Future”. We had [an] opportunity to keep exploring matter, and so I picked light. I started to be exposed to circuit boards and sensors and ways to make that artwork myself and learned a bit of coding and soldering. I was able to start developing the type of artwork I had in mind [to] develop my portfolio to then approach Patten’s studio. By then, I had developed that skillset from different work experiences as a lighting designer and as a set designer that allowed me to integrate into the team.

How did you become interested in working in STEM?

I had a physics teacher that explained to us color and light and how those two interact together. That sparked my fascination and encouraged me to explore more and more into this field. I was seeing people working with interactive art installations and people using light to create light shows and having a person interact with the artwork to create an ever-changing artwork. That’s really what I realized I wanted to do , so when I was 18 years old and I had to find my way to go from doing textile design to doing engineering and technical work.

Tell us about your experience as a Girl working in STEM:

As a female, I have always felt well-received [in my field]. I’ve never experienced specific pushback. If you do not consider yourself any different from anyone else, and that is what you project to others, that is what others will see. I think that if you just keep thinking you are an individual and you are worthy in that field, you will earn everyone’s respect. When you have that statement for yourself and dare to express who you are as an individual and a person, I think everyone will appreciate that and welcome you.

What would you say to your younger self?

At the moment I wanted to do this kind of thing, I had no clue how I would get there or do it. I felt like I did not have the toolset to be legitimate in that space. So what I would want to tell you is pursue your vision. If there is something you are passionate about and if other people are doing it, there is no reason that you cannot be doing it as well. So follow your passion and work toward it and it will come true.

Tell us what or who inspires you:

The role models were definitely those companies, those small studios that work with light and interactive technologies… There are artists like James Terrel who worked with light only … a lot of those artists that use minimal work, but that work with color and optical illusion and vision were all the kind of work that inspired me.

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James Patten

Principal & Founder, Patten Studio

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My name is James Patten and I am the Director of Patten Studio. Patten Studio builds, broadly speaking, interactive art installations… we create interactive experiences in the physical world that usually involve technology to give people an experience they haven’t had before. One of the themes in our work is connection. We are trying to create experiences that provide people with an opportunity to strike up a conversation with a stranger.

Tell us about your journey into your current role:

I went on to do a PhD at the MIT Media lab and the focus of my work there was all about creating new kinds of interfaces between people and computers. In particular, there was a focus on using physical objects to represent and control information inside of a computer. Ever since then, I’ve been really passionate about this idea of creating experiences that involve some element of computation but where the interaction happens in the real world and this added element of computation creates an opportunity for a really playful experience.

How did you become interested in working in STEM?

I always have had a passion for making things. I had a brief stint in engineering school in undergrad before realizing that all of the math maybe wasn’t necessarily for me. So I wound up with a very interdisciplinary education as an undergraduate with kind of a mix of computer science, psychology, and philosophy.

Tell us about your creative team at Patten Studio:

We have engineers that realize that they would rather be artists and artists that realize they would rather be engineers. They’ve picked up skills from different disciplines along the way… I think the thing that really brings it all together is working across disciplines. The kinds of disciplines that are involved are electrical engineering, computer science, visual arts, graphic design, and other engineering and art fields as well.

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DIY Spectroscope

An easy, make-at-home-or-school tool to study the different properties of light along the electromagnetic spectrum.

light loom