ESU Physics Department Hosts Aspiring Cub Scout Scientists

The East Stroudsburg University Department of Physics hosted the third annual Webelos Scientist Event for area Cub Scouts earlier this semester. The event allowed eighteen visiting scouts to spend the day on ESU's campus and complete all requirements for the Webelos "Scientist Badge." Faculty members from the physics, chemistry, and geography departments, along with members of the ESU student chapter of the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) and ESU Chemistry Club volunteered their time to be a part of this event.

The visiting scouts started their day in Beers Lecture Hall, where they interviewed scientists including: Dr. Robert Cohen, professor of physics; Prof. Maria Ocola, adjunct professor of physics; Dr. John Elwood, associate professor of physics; Dr. Michael Doherty, professor of chemistry; and Dr. Shixiong Hu, assistant professor of geography.

The scouts then participated in a series of scientific demonstrations in Gessner Hall. After lunch, scouts launched bottle rockets and then returned to Gessner to design and carry out experiments on how quickly various objects roll down a ramp, assisted by student members of the NSTA. The afternoon concluded in Beers Lecture Hall, where the scouts presented their research results to parents and peers and watched a show by student members of the ESU Chemistry Club. The Webelos Scientist Event was partially funded by registration fees and partially funded by a University Strategic Fund Grant.

For more information contact Dr. Robert Cohen, ESU professor and department chair of the physics department at (570) 422-3428.