CSA Participates in ‘Science Works’ Outreach Event

On October 4 and 5, CSA participated in “Science Works: Cool Jobs, Hot Careers” at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. The aim of the event was to provide opportunities for youth to engage with STEM professionals as a way to spark interest in STEM-related career paths.

Approximately 7,000 people attended the event, including students of all ages, teachers and parents. Dozens of other companies and organizations participated, including Argonne National Lab, University of Chicago, NASA, Siemens, Agilent Technologies and the Adler Planetarium, among others.

Mandy Bobrow, Special Programs Coordinator at the Museum of Science and Industry, said the museum has received overwhelmingly positive feedback about the event from guests, professionals and staff, and plans to run the event again next year.

CSA’s exhibit was spread over three tables in the “Science Storms” section of the museum. The exhibit featured displays from scientists and engineers at Meyer Tool and Manufacturing, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory and the Field Museum of Natural History.

Meyer’s display highlighted aspects of engineering and manufacturing with a special focus on cryogenic applications. Engineer Jake Rumel was on hand to explain an engineer’s job, using the basics of creating cryogenic, pressure and vacuum vessels from raw materials as an example. He and Eileen Cunningham, President of Meyer Tool, a CSA CSM, showed interested participants examples of machined components and welding samples, along with images of a fully modeled cryostat. A gauge block demonstration gave the students a sense of the importance of part tolerances.

Cunningham said female students asked her about her role at Meyer Tool and Manufacturing and the challenges that she faces.

“The experience was very positive,” said Cunningham. “It was exciting to see a student’s eyes light up as we explained aspects of cryogenics and what we do and what can be done.”

Cunningham feels it was the perfect outreach opportunity, since students don’t always get a chance to learn enough about manufacturing and other STEM-related careers in action.

“It is our mission to get the word out about manufacturing as a positive career choice—for both men and women,” said Cunningham.

Fermilab’s contribution included a display from Benjamin Hansen, Cryogenic Engineer. He presented cross sections of two styles of liquid helium transfer piping and multilayer insulation to show the insulation techniques needed to reduce the heat load to the liquid helium. Hansen also had a computer display with a live controls system showing the status of a liquid helium cryoplant in operation at Fermilab and a piping flow schematic of the cryoplant.

Stationed at the same table was Dr. Emanuela Barzi, Superconducting R&D Group Leader at Fermilab, whose display included samples of superconducting cables and a 1-to-1 scale picture of a large superconducting billet, which helped her explain how these large billets get drawn down into tiny superconducting wires that are then used to fabricate cables. Barzi also had an open cable that showed thousands of actual hair-thin superconducting filaments coming out of each wire.

Barzi explained to the students that these items were enclosed in a plastic container so the thin filaments wouldn’t ignite, an idea that fascinated some students and frightened others.

At some point, Hansen and Barzi, who were at the same table, teamed up to show the students the relationship between cryogenics and superconductivity.

“I was very impressed with the amount of curiosity and very intelligent questions coming from kids of all ages,” said Hansen of the visitors coming to his table. “It was refreshing to see this enthusiasm for science and technology coming from such young generations.”

To further demonstrate the varied applications of cryogenic technology, Dr. Shannon Hackett, Associate Curator of Birds at the Field Museum, brought in some bird specimens, including preserved birds from around the world. She also showed students the small vials that contain specimen samples that are frozen in the museum’s cryogenic facility. (See the Cold Facts Summer 2013 issue for a full report on the cryogenic facility at the Field Museum.)

A veteran of youth science outreach affairs, Jerry Zimmerman, aka “Mr. Freeze,” of Fermilab, drew in curious audiences with his very popular cryo show, performed on Friday near the other CSA exhibitors, and on Saturday in an auditorium in front of an audience of about 100. Zimmerman said his show garnered great interest and involvement from attendees.

CSA hopes attendees of the “Science Works” event will be inspired to explore STEM career options and help move the nation toward a larger investment in science and technology.

“I believe it is important for kids to know that they don’t have to be the most talented math or science student to help contribute and enter a STEM field,” said Hansen. “They just need the desire and some hard work.”