The NTCC STEM Club, sponsored by Dr. Drew Murphy and Mr. Mark Ellerman, enjoyed a busy spring semester. On January 30, the members of the STEM Club served as judges for the Region 8 Science Fair held at the Region 8 Education Service Center. There were 216 total entries representing students in grades 4 – 8 and high school from across the region. There were 80 entries in the Behavioral and Biological Sciences, 119 in the Chemical and Physical Sciences, and 17 entries in the Invention Category. Entries were judged on creativity/originality, scientific method, use of data charts/graphs/charts, oral presentation skills, and science board neatness and organization. Special thanks are extended to the STEM Club students and to Dr. Drew Murphy and Professor Stacie Yarbrough for their time and talents in supporting this annual event.
In mid-April an audience of approximately 95 students and faculty listened as three NTCC students Gracie Gray, Stephanie Hernandez, and Isabel Tresidder presented the research they completed this spring with Dr. Chris McAllister, who provided an overview of BIOL 2389.
To finish the semester, the STEM Club hosted Paul Boothe, Ph.D. (pictured), who was the guest presenter at the April 28th STEM Lunch and Learn held in the Whatley Foyer. Over 80 attendees learned from Dr. Boothe about industrial applications of chemistry in research and development of emerging technologies. Dr. Boothe, whose graduate studies were conducted alongside our very own Dr. Drew Murphy at University of Southern California, earned his Ph.D. in Organic/Organometallic Chemistry in 2003. Dr. Boothe shared his industrial lab experiences in the synthesis and formulation of new polymer products, specializing in novel thermoset polymers for advanced materials applications. Members of the audience were fascinated as Dr. Boothe informed them of the uses of chemistry in products ranging from wind turbine propeller blades to cell phone circuit boards to alternative rebar for concrete. Pizza was provided by the NTCC STEM Club. Special thanks to Dr. Murphy for hosting Dr. Boothe.
