TCRSF 2024 – Science Fair is History Now

Throughout March we've been pitching in on the Twin Cities Regional Science Fairs, thanks to everyone who helped.  Mary Pucel and Phill Goldman read through the research papers.   Jim Kline and Phill judged projects the night of the event.  Lynne kept the data systems flowing and trained the next generation of data entry folks. And Pam Kline kept us all on track from the bleachers.

How many of these winning project titles do you want to read

  • Development of Novel Biodegradable Bioplastics using Mango Peels Intended for Packaging Film (Alyssa Wang)
  • SignalGrab: A Machine Learning Approach to Helping Color Blind Drivers (Bora Mandic)
  • The Required Distance between the Fluxonium Qubit and the Ground Plane for Optimal T1 Times (Dylan Tate, Garrett Garms)
  • The Effectiveness of Biochar as an Amendment on the Growth of Raphanus Sativus in MGS-1 Mars Global Stimulant and the Development of a Model for Regeneration of Water and Oxygen for Life Support Sustenance on Mars (Sriram Sureshkumar)
  • Using iron and graphene oxide nanoparticles to induce targeted apoptosis in cancerous cells (Georgia Constantin)

Impressive, every one - and all of them sound like Star Trek Dialogue!  The future is now, kids!

After setting up for the awards and tearing down, I'm struck by how much talent these young scientist have, and how much they are willing to help.

Looking ahead, the 2025 edition will take place back at the Warner Colloseum at the State Fairgrounds, Friday February 28th through Sunday March 2nd. And in 2026, we'll have a new venue while the Colloseum is renovated.  Come see what's new, and help out where you can.

  • Phill

 

Twin Cities Regional Science Fair, March 1st and 3rd

Join us at the Twin Cities Regional Science Fair!  Let's pitch in to help in our 31st year involved with the Fair.

Setting Up

We don't have to move tables and chairs in and out of trucks like before, but we do have to cover the the tables and mark the competition spaces;  we need to add the numbers to the table locations.   We also need to set up the IT systems (easily 12 PCs, several large-size displays, and three printers).  Finally, a fair like this with sponsors has a lot of signs to put up  around the area.  More hands make light work, please come along and help on March 1st starting about 7-8AM.   Breakfast snacks and coffee are usually provided, along with a lunch prior to the students' arrival.

Judging

The main judging is on March 1st starting at about 4PM. The Fair needs "judges to judge both within their expertise and educated judges to judge outside their field of expertise so that the students will have to clearly present their projects to scientists who may not know the jargon of the project." They ask that judges for the complicated high school projects have experience, and this is defined on their website. However, don't let the lack of a science background stop you if you'd like to participate, as there are also middle school projects to judge. It's super fun to chat with students who dissolve teeth in Coke and lemon juice, or grow plants under various colors of light, or experiment with bugs or worms. You're guarteed to learn something!

Logistics

In a fair this big there are definitely a lot of moving pieces and a lot of data.  We need people to help check kids in, to record data during the event, and hospitality.   If you have time to help keep the main show moving, please consider joining in from about 2PM until judging is complete.

Award Ceremony and Take Down

We get a Saturday off, then return at about 9AM on Sunday March 3rd for the award ceremony, thene we undo a lot of what we did on Friday starting at 11:30.

Both parking and a light supper & snacks are provided (catered) for judges and volunteers.  Naturally, we'll go out to eat as a group after the judging is over, because we do that.

Go to www.tcrsf.net to sign up and find out all the info you need.

Something new….

OK...now that I am the chief cook, chauffeur, maid, and bottle washer I find that I have been getting a little bored doing the 'same ole, same old' for making meals. Most days I prefer simple easy meals without extra/exotic ingredients. Plus, let's be honest, I need to be able to adjust recipes because of likes/dislikes, lactose intolerance and allergies...no one in this house likes the same thing--so it seems.

I receive daily emails with recipe suggestions from Recipe of the Day from Taste of Home and Betty Crocker websites. Both have a daily suggestion or two from their free subscription services, can be easily signed up for and cancelled, and have a huge back log of choices. These have been helpful! Hope it makes your menu planning a little more interesting!

Twin Cities Regional Science Fair Recap

The 2020 Twin Cities Regional Science Fairs were fun, educational, and a great way to give back to the kids in the Cities. Five Nokomisites braved the arena at the Fairgrounds on February 28th and 29th and met some amazingly talented young people who made us encouraged for the future.

How many of these projects could you do?

  • "The Physics of Flipping Cats"
  • "How doe the type of flour affect the size of a cookie?"
  • "Mycoremediation of Organic Environmental Contaminants"
  • "Expressing the sMMO genes from Methylosinus trichosporium in Escherichia coli for the biocatalysis of methanol production using methane".

This was our 27th year at the Fair, we've helped out every year since 1994. Let's spend our Bonus Leap Day helping the kids!

In 2021, the event happens on February 26th.  Mark your calendars!  If you've got a science background and know about scientific method, please volunteer to judge projects.

Twin Cities Regional Science Fairs 2020

Twin Cities Regional Science Fairs

 will be held at the Lee & Rose Warner Coliseum at the State Fairgrounds, on

February 28-29, 2020

We've helped out every year since 1994, please help us help the Kids Create the Future.  Let's spend our Bonus Leap Day helping the kids!

Setup starts at 9AM on the 28th. We don't need to haul all the heavy tables and chairs, our particular set of skills is the detailed work with signs, power, and logistics.  Lunch is provided.

If you've got a science background and know about scientific method, please volunteer to judge projects.  Each student is judged at least 3 times, so you can imagine the number of judges we need.  You don't need to be an expert in the areas you're judging, just need to judge the quality and completeness of their work.  The kids start checking in at about 1PM, with judging starting at about 3:00pm.  With luck and work we'll be done by 10:00PM.

On Saturday the award ceremony starts at 10:00AM and goes until about noon, followed by takedown and a little lunch at Khan's.

Please join us, and come to the February Meeting to find out more!

Feed My Starving Children Packing Event in January

We will be packing food for those in need on January 23rd from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. The location is the Coon Rapids facility at 401 93rd Ave NW, Coon Rapids, MN 55433. We currently have 7 open spots in our reservation. Please go to www.fmsc.org to join our USS Nokomis group or click here to go directly to the signups. After we do good for others, we'll do good for us by going to dinner at a nearby restaurant.

ZooBoo’s Finale Time is Here!

Celebrate Halloween without the Fright

All proceeds support the plants and animals of the Como Zoo and Conservatory.  The Nokomis has been helping out with this event since 1994 (this is our 23rd year).  We really want to help keep one of America's last free-admission zoos free.

Como Zoo will be transformed for Zoo Boo October 21st, 22nd and October 28th, 29th. Gates Open: 4:30-7:30 p.m. We're just four nights this year, so let's make them count.

Volunteering

Como Friends are starting to gear up for our annual Como Friends ZooBoo at Como Zoo event and hope that you can join us again!  Even returning volunteers need to fill out the Zoo's signup online - it just takes a minute.  You can find it here. Sign up to let the Nokomis know you're coming - all of the dates are on one online signup sheet.

Prep

The week before the event we have a workday set to break down product and kick off the event.  Consider taking on a station leader's role and join us October 14th.

On the morning of the first event night, Saturday October 21st, we'll be in full-on work to complete setups before the event.  We start at 9AM and hopefully we'll be done before the gates open.

Event

Our folks will be heading up the new Halloween station, just inside the front gate.  We need to get there early (3PM), but we get done first.    Be sure to sign in up on the second floor of the Big Zoo Building - there are goodies for you there, and perhaps a surprise coupon.

Dinner

Be sure to check with our folks at the first station, we'll get details there about the night's repast!  Hope to see you all there, all the time!

ZooBoo’s Finale is Coming Soon!

Celebrate Halloween without the Fright for the 30th and Final Time

All proceeds support the plants and animals of the Como Zoo and Conservatory.  The Nokomis has been helping out with this event since 1994 (this is our 24th time).  We really want to help keep one of America's last free-admission zoos free.

Como Zoo will be transformed for ZooBoo October 21st – 22nd; and October 28th – 29th. Gates Open: 4:30-7:30 p.m.

This is the 30th and final time ZooBoo happens in its current form.  After this year the midsection of Como will be under construction for the new Piniped Plaza, home of Sparky and his cousins (piniped is fancy for seals and sea lions).  The construction extends from the edge of Gorilla Forest and the hoof stock yard all the way through Seal Island to the Aquatics building. That makes a safe path in 2018 much harder to do.  The team will take 2018 off to plan for a new and different event starting in 2019.

Want to know more about the event, click here.

More inside...

Chuckwagon Dinner and Fundraiser 2017

Chuck Wagon Dinner
and
Auction
Sponsored by
USS NOKOMIS STAR TREK CLUB

SATURDAY
APRIL 22nd, 2017
at the
Dan Patch American Legion – Savage
12375 Princeton Ave
Savage, MN 55378
(Note the new location)

Cost is $12.00 per person

Social Time and Auction Viewing 5:00PM to 6:00PM
Chuck Wagon Chili Dinner Served, plus Fun and Games 6:00PM to 6:45 PM
Silent Auction Closes 7:15 PM
Door Prizes 6:00PM to 7:00PM

We are keeping our Chili menu this year as it was such a success last year!!  Come try mild to spicy and white Chili’s certain one will be your “hearts” desire!!  Along with our auction items the “claw” machine will be back filled with toys and gift cards to some of our favorite restaurants and stores.  Grab your cowboy hats, boots, and your horse (if you have one), spouse, family, friends, quarters for the claw machine and come enjoy lots of fun with us!

Please reserve your spots by APRIL 10th so we can make sure there is plenty of Chili and fixings for everyone!

** Our 2017 benefit will be for the  Hospice and Palliative Care at the MN VA Hospital in honor of one of our member’s losing her battle to cancer.