Ames Laboratory Feature
Turning Students into Scientists
Ames Laboratory hosts educational activity for community students
Hundreds of young students transformed into curious chromatographers at an interactive educational display hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Ames Laboratory on March 29. The Ames Lab “Chromatography: The Science of Color” program was part of Science Night at Fellows Elementary School in Ames, Iowa.
Ames Lab employees taught students about the principle of capillary action through a chromatography experiment. Students marked black ink onto filter paper, exposed the filter paper to water and watched as the water and ink traveled through the paper, revealing the different colors that make up the color black. Different types of black ink created different “rainbow” patterns of color according to their chemical makeup. Alan Goldman, Ames Lab interim director, helped students start their experiments. “These students know their stuff. And they are asking pretty creative questions about the process,” he said. As the chromatography process began, students eagerly awaited the results. “It was fun to do chromatography. It was really cool to see how the ink separated,” said Grace Mills, a fourth grader at Fellows. |
Ames Lab Director Alan Goldman and administrative assistant Cynthia Feller help a Fellows elementary student with an experiment in chromotography. |
Many participants had been counting down the days for their chance to do hands-on science activities like the one sponsored by Ames Lab.
“My son Max, a first grader at Fellows, has been excited about Science Night all week. This is such a great event for families in Ames,” said Jenny Goeders.
Ames Laboratory, celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2007, is operated for the Department of Energy by Iowa State University. The Lab conducts research into various areas of national concern, including energy resources, high-speed computer design, environmental cleanup and restoration, and the synthesis and study of new materials.
~ Breehan Gerleman, Public Affairs, 515-294-9750