Bay Area Science Fairs
​& Festivals

Bay Area Scientists in Schools (BASIS)

With a group of diverse, enthusiastic colleagues, we developed content for in-class science lessons to inspire elementary and middle school students to engage in hands-on, inquiry-based learning activities. Some examples of our implemented lessons, include:
​
Albedo: Heat and Color – lesson & experiment for 5th grade classrooms [example worksheet]
Experiment: Painted and placed squares of different colors under a lamp to observe temperature changes. 
Discussion: Colors of house roofs, urban areas, and melting ice sheets can affect albedo and climate.

Optics and Light – lesson & experiment for 3rd grade classrooms
Experiment: Made a kaleidoscope out of cardboard rolls, mirrors, and colorful beads, and also observed light passing through water.
Discussion: Light allows us to see things, reflections in mirrors, and refraction through water. 

DNA and Proteins – lesson & experiment for 5th and 7th grade classrooms
Experiment: Extracted DNA from strawberries and bananas. 
Discussion: DNA is used as a blueprint to make proteins, that then build the structure of cells, and many cells together form a person. 
 

Engineers Without Borders at U of Minnesota

Kyetume, Uganda – Designed and implemented a solar-powered groundwater pumping system, rainwater harvesting, bio-sand water filtration, composting toilets, and drip-irrigation systems at Hope Integrated Academy (in partnership with Uganda Rural Fund) secondary school and community center and in the surrounding villages.