Students in the 2021 Joint Science and Technology Institute will take part in research projects in a variety of scientific disciplines. 

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High School Student Projects

Physiological and Genomic Characterization of Bacterial Extremophiles from Cave Environments

Bacteria are found in nearly every environmental niche and have co-evolved with all animals and plants that ever existed. While significant evidence implicates bacteria’s direct impact on climate, ecosystems, and animal/plant health, we have only begun to reveal the immense diversity comprised solely of these “simple” organisms. To continue the quest of discovering potentially novel and ecologically relevant bacterial species, this project investigates the microbial diversity present in subsurface cave systems, where, despite the limited availability of nutrients commonly found in terrestrial soils, microbial life continues to thrive. Herein, our team employs classical microbiological techniques with genomic sequencing and bioinformatics tools to physiologically and genomically characterize potentially novel extremophile bacterial isolates from two cave systems in the United States. This unique project centers on real-time, hands-on techniques to deliver the genuine experience of hypothesis-driven, scientific research to our students. 

Mentors: aMichaeline Albright, bAndrew Bartlow, bKaren Davenport, bArmand Dichosa, bPriya Dighe, bBlake Hovde, cShannon Johnson, Julia Kelliher, bAnand Kumar, bEarl Middlebrook, and bMigun Shakya

Departments/Divisions: aB-11: Bioenergy and Biome Sciences; bB-10: Biosecurity and Public Health; cA-2: Intelligence and Systems Analysis, Los Alamos National Laboratory

Radiation Biology

The use of ionizing radiation in many industrial, military, and medical devices requires the study of the effects of these types of radiation on living things in order to set limits on exposure and develop protective devices and practices. The objective of this project is to familiarize the students with different types of radiation and their sources, view the results of radiation exposure through experimentation with eukaryotic organisms including yeast and plants, and explore methods of detecting, assessing, and treating radiation exposure that are being developed at ORNL and other facilities.

Mentor: Betsy Ellis, Health Studies

Departments/Divisions: Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education

Quantum Computing and Technology

The strangeness of quantum physics is being harnessed to revolutionize computing as we know it.  In this project, you will get a primer on the fundamentals of computing, learn hands-on the oftentimes perplexing phenomena of quantum physics, and apply those phenomena to solve computing problems in new ways.  Students will gain experience creating circuits on a real-world quantum computer and hear from a team of mentors what it’s like to have a career at the forefront of quantum technology.

Mentor: Megan Ivory

Departments/Divisions: Microsystems and Engineering Sciences Applications, Sandia National Laboratory

Designing for Strength: Making the Most of Your 3D prints

Finite deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printing has become incredibly popular due to the expiration of key patents governing the technology.  A cheap FDM printer has gone from $20k to $200 in less than two decades, quickly leading to the proliferation of FDM 3D printers among hobbyists and engineers alike.  While FDM 3D printing has many advantages over more traditional manufacturing techniques, it tends to result in weaker parts than parts made by machining processes.  In this project, we will learn how to design and print parts for strength, and along the way you will use a 3D printer and learn the basics of computer aided design.  We will strength tests parts using a hydraulic press and force gauge and analyze the resulting data. Finally, we will write a report on the practices that result in the strongest 3D printed parts, applying statistical analysis to understand the significance our results.

Mentor: Jacob Yoder

Departments/Divisions: Biosciences Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory

Design for Additive Manufacturing

While 3D printing is becoming commonplace with both hobbyists and industry, many of the software tools and design strategies that have been used in traditional manufacturing no longer apply. This project focuses on leveraging cutting edge engineering design tools and approaches to produce parts that were truly unable to be produced only a few years prior. Beginning with first principles in 2D drafting, through 3D solid computer-aided modeling (CAD), and into the newest applications of parameter- and algorithm-based modeling such as triply periodic minimal surfaces (TPMS), students gain a broad understanding of design principles from the ground up. Good engineering design principles (for both additive and traditionally machined parts), thinking in 3D, design iteration, product life cycle assessment, and working in engineering teams are emphasized as students get hands-on with the most common 3D printing technology to print and test their designs.

Mentor: Michael Geuy, PhD Student - Mechanical Engineering/Additive Manufacturing and Design, The Pennsylvania State University

Electronic and Military Packaging

Students will design, build and test a unique electronic item and their packaging skill against the rugged military environment.  Working with engineers and specialists from Advance Design & Manufacturing, the students will also use an open source CAD program and other rapid prototyping technologies to analyze, design and model an ancillary item for their project.  Students will learn about military specifications for packaging materials to protect their parts, and test their packaged part against the extreme conditions and situational environment encountered by military to ensure a successful delivery. 

Mentor: Dave Vincitore and Robert Pazada, Advanced Design and Manufacturing, Aberdeen Proving Ground

Math Modeling Mania 2021

Do you really know how to count elephants traipsing through your garden? Would you desire the skills to optimize a catapult raining destruction on a toy castle? For your next appearance on a game show, would you like to enhance your chances of winning the big prize? When disaster strikes, how bad can it get and where should you go? What does math and modeling have to do with any of this? For the answers to these and other mysteries, tune into Math Modeling Mania 2021.

We will take you through the basic math behind probabilities and statistics, then apply that new found knowledge to “real world” scenarios such as game shows, environmental monitoring and the spread of disease. Venturing onward, you will perform a design of experiments and optimize hitting a target with a Statapult™. We will delve briefly into the world of cryptology and how those concepts enable a world wide web of commerce and communications. You will also learn some programming through fun, practical research using the Raspberry Pi.  Finally we will use a large simulation that predicts the impacts of industrial accidents or Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) attacks and see how decision makers use such information. Math and modeling applied to “everyday” life. 

Mentors: Michael Kierzewski (lead), Benjamin Barile, Dr. Tom Ingersoll, Sandra Mendez, Dominic Pham, Nirmala Pinto, and Douglas Sommerville

Departments/Divisions: Modeling, Simulation and Analysis, Aberdeen Proving Ground

 

It’s a Small World: Harnessing the Potential of Bacteria to Benefit Us All Through Biotechnology

The study of bacteria (microbiology) is a broad field that includes understanding how microorganisms can benefit us, as well as cause us harm through infection. An area where bacteria continue to make important contributions is in biotechnology. For this, processes performed by bacteria, such as cell division, DNA replication and transcription are harnessed to generate new and useful molecules. For example, bacteria can be engineered to produce new drugs used in human medicine and enzymes for industrial processes. In addition to yielding new products that benefit society, biotechnology promises to offer a wide range of career opportunities well into the future. For this program, we will use both on-line activities, as well as hands-on exercises to demonstrate fundamental principles of biotechnology. Beginning with the basics of working with bacteria, we will also explore how the shapes of molecules of life, i.e., DNA and protein, contribute to their function. Next, we will demonstrate how these molecules can be altered, including through the use of PCR and CRISPR, to yield new functions. Since communication is vital to the activity of scientists, we will also emphasize the use of creative ways to share the results of our activities.

Mentor: Greg Phillips, Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Iowa State University

Expanded Robotics

The field of robotics is growing by leaps and bounds: from movie props to performing delicate surgeries. As an introduction to robotics and applied engineering, students will explore the gambit of emerging trends and future applications in the industry including traditional uses like welding and high speed sortation through to drones and humanoids. Students will then get hands on by designing, building, and programming robots. Students will be introduced to the PBASIC coding language through student built robots and Python through a shared drone by creating flight patterns and controls. Basic engineering principles from mechanical design and assembly to algorithms and coding will be introduced.

Mentor: Harrison Hughes, Georgia Tech Research Institute

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Middle School Student Projects

Forensics

Our forensic science adventure will start with learning and practicing the skills involved in analytical observation, identifying substances through chemical reactions, chromatography and computer data, taking and evaluating fingerprints and we will finish with a mystery that can only be solved by applying these new skills.

Computer Science and Modeling

Student participate in an integrated science and computer science project. Students will learn to utilize various lenses to examine problems and determine solutions, develop and use StarLogo Nova computer models that help answer questions through scientific inquiry, and use critical thinking to assess which ideas are reasonable and which are not.

App Design

The students will learn the basics of graphic design and web and app development using Canva, Google Sites, and Thunkable. They will then use this new skill set plus their entrepreneurial skills to create an app and service that will help solve a problem in their community.

3D Printing

During the first week of the course, students will learn basic 3D modeling skills, such as creating objects, aligning, scaling, rotating, and grouping. Students will then progress to computer aided designs (CAD) that integrate more complex functions of the CAD program (e.g., adjusting the XYZ axes, using calipers to determine real world scaling of models, converting 3D designs to .STL files, exporting files, etc.). As students gain confidence in their 3D modeling skills, they will be introduced to 3D printing using the objects from their own designs. Students will utilize a slicer program to prepare their .STL files for printing. As the course moves into the second week, the focus will shift to using their CAD and printing skills to create and 3D print a functional assistive tool or instrument for humans or animals with a disability. Student teams of two will gain empathy for others and will work together to research and identify assistive needs with their schools, homes, families, or communities to improve the daily life of another human, an animal, or even a plant. Students will each show off their newly acquired skills and will produce a short video documenting their experiences in the course and highlights of their project development and outcomes.

Raspberry Pi

In this course, students will connect a Raspberry Pi to a monitor, a standard keyboard, and mouse, to discover what it is capable of doing, and see that it can do everything you’d expect a desktop computer to do, from browsing the internet and playing high-definition video, to playing games. They can also to use it for future tasks like making spreadsheets or word-processing. It can also be used as a data collection tool for science and to make customizable electronic gadgets. The students will use a breadboard, wiring, resistors, and LEDs to learn basic coding and electronic circuity. They will build a smart car robot, controlled by a Raspberry Pi, that uses sensors to learn its capabilities with interacting with the outside world. Students will discuss cybersecurity and its impact to their world. And finally, they will be given an opportunity to discover more projects using their raspberry pi, including coding music with Sonic Pi.

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