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For release August 8, 2006
HIGH-SCHOOLERS ‘CHALLENGED’ IN UTSI WORKSHOP;
PARENTS HEAR THEIR REPORTS ON VARIED RESEARCH
Fifteen area rising high
school students were presented “challenging and difficult
materials” during a two-week computational workshop, and their
leader said he never once heard “I can’t” or “I won’t.”
On Aug. 4, parents and other visitors gathered at The University
of Tennessee Space Institute to hear the students and three
participating teachers report on their chosen research projects.
Robert Gotwals, leader of the workshop, said the first week was
spent in introducing the participants “to how computers are used
in modern science to solve interesting problems.” During the
second week, the students chose individual research projects and
explained them at the “colloquium.”
Gotwals is senior computational science educator with the Shodor
Center for Computational Science Education in Durham, N.C.,
which offers the enriched training.
This workshop was sponsored by Dr. Bill Hofmeister, director of
UTSI’s Center for Laser Applications, and Dr. Alan Clark, member
of the Franklin County School Board. Another member of the
Franklin board, Wendy Moore, and Franklin County School Supt.
Charles H. Edmonds also were present for the presentations by
students and teachers.
Three teachers – JoLynn Schultz from Huntland High and Stacy
Brown and Ellen Jackson, both from Franklin County North – also
attended all sessions and gave oral reports on the final day.
They spoke enviously of the young people’s superior grasp of
computers and mathematical equations. The teachers said they
themselves will share much that they learned with other
students.
Research projects ranged from astronomy (programming and tools
for studying the planets) presented by Ryan Qualls and Chris
Yockey from Coffee County’s Central High School to Franklin
County High’s Troy Allison and Chandler Hodges’ report on air
pollution.
Callie Dixon, who is entering FCHS from South Middle School, and
Becca Hofmeister from Nashville, reported on their study of
Phylogenetic trees. Their project dealt with graphing comparison
of different organisms and their DNA make-up. Becca attends
Martin Luther King magnet school.
Mercedes Tiedemann (FCHS) and Kelsey Sutton (Webb School), both
of Franklin County, reported on Tsunamis and the earthquakes
that cause them, and Ben Fults of FCHS, explained “track
warrants” and proposed various safety practices for trains. A
report by Justice Wenzlick, CHS, and Shelby Stewart, FCHS, dealt
with automotive engines while Katherine McConnell of FCHS
focused on similarities and differences in human DNA and that of
chimpanzees.
CHS’s Brittany Kriz, joined Chloe Davenport, FCHS, and
Huntland’s Tommy Forrest in discussing effectiveness of drugs.
Bob Gotwals stands with
four students from Coffee County Central
High School who participated in a UTSI
workshop. From left are Brittany Kriz,
Justice Wenzlick, Ryan Qualls, and Chris
Yockey.
Dr. Bill Hofmeister joins Bob Gotwals,
and Franklin County teachers
and students at UTSI’s Computational Workshop. From
left, front, are
Gotwals, Katherine McConnell, Chloe Davenport, Kelsey
Sutton, and
Mercedes Tiedemann; middle row, Ellen Jackson, JoLynn
Schultz,
Stacy Brown, teachers, and Ben Fults; back row,
Hofmeister, Tommy
Forrest, Troy Allison, Shelby Stewart, Chandler Hodges,
and Callie
Dixon. Becca Hofmeister from Nashville also
participated.
Troy Allison of FCHS
reports on research into air pollution.
Dr. Bill Hofmeister, director
of UTSI’s laser center, and Workshop leader Bob
Gotwals, left, join 18 participants after they
presented reports on their research projects.
-- UTSI Photos
Writer: Weldon Payne (931) 393-7222
wpayne@utsi.edu
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