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Custom-built robots buzzed across the crowded floor of the Polytechnic Institute of New York University in Brooklyn on Saturday, as more than 350 elementary and middle school students packed the campus for the Brooklyn qualifying round of the New York City FIRST Lego League, a citywide academic competition focusing on topics in science and engineering.

Forty-three teams of students between the ages of 9 and 14 competed in a set of challenges throughout the day, which included using robots that each team had constructed out of Legos to complete various tasks. Other activities included a research presentation and an explanation of the robot’s technical capabilities.

This year’s research theme was “food security,” which means making sure food is cleaned and produced in a safe way, understanding health hazards surrounding food distribution and production, learning how to safely control pests/insects, and other aspects of food safety.

Each team, which had between six and 10 members, was judged on the functionality of its robot, the comprehensiveness of the research report, and teamwork. The top 22 teams were selected to advance to a citywide final at the Jacob K. Javits Center in Manhattan in March.

Source: New York Times

by admin

, Four students from Zane Trace competed in the Ohio FFA Food Science Career Development Event held at the Ohio State University.  This year’s team consisted of Sarah Cox, Jessie Proehl, Kasandra Dalton and Eva Bugg.  The students participated in five different activities that mimic the skills performed by food scientists in their day to day work.  These activities included: an online test over food chemistry and food safety, a triangle taste test, aroma identification, consumer complaint letter response and team development of a new food product.

Participation in the State Food Science CDE has become a tradition for the ZT FFA over the years and this year’s team was able to take this tradition further than it has ever been taken.  The team placed 4 Benjamin Logan students earn ...

By: Katelyne Ackley, chapter reporter On January 9, 2012 the Benjamin Logan FFA had 31 chapter degrees given out during the January FFA meeting. Following the meeting was cake and pictures....

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by Colleen Humfreville

By Colleen Humfreville

Once rain starts falling from the sky coupled with the brisk Santa Ana winds, we often run for cover and refuse to come out, escaping into a cyber-reality of homebred comfort. Our comfort consists of movies, surfing the internet and good ol’ social networking.

Irvine may be known for its calming trees and identical buildings, but a little rain shouldn’t send us all under the covers snuggling up with Netflix. There are plenty of fun, hassle-free and inexpensive activities to do in Irvine on a rainy day.

Plan One: Soak up some local Orange County culture. If your beach plans get rained on, stop by the Orange County Museum of Art located near the Fashion Island shopping center in Newport Beach. . The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday, from 11 a.m. To 5 p.m., and, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursdays. The museum offers a variety of featured exhibits and permanent collections, and you can augment your trip with a visit to the museum’s shop, café,\ or one of their special events (with everything listed on their website, ocma.net). You can see everything from “100 Pounds of Clay,” “15 Minutes of Fame” and thousands of other works of art – with a special emphasis on California’s own talented and creative artisans. You might just come across the next regional masterpiece.

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