Imagine being an 11th grade physics student happy to be in class solely because you knew you would not have to work today because there was going to be a “guest speaker” presenting a talk on alternate energy. What a great opportunity for a nap! Now imagine your surprise when the guest speaker introduces his talk by telling you that water could be used to power a car. He then introduces you to the variety of energy sources including ethanol enhanced gasoline, solar power, hydro power, wind power, and algae produced biodiesel. Now further imagine your surprise when your guest speaker pours water into a machine which splits the water into oxygen and hydrogen, holds the hydrogen container up, places a lighter to the mouth of the container, then BOOM resounds an explosion so intense that decades of chalk dust is jarred loose from the ceiling tiles in your classroom coating every surface in the room with a layer of white.
This incident is how it all began. That guest speaker was Mr. Rex Cox, owner and operator of JustRite Automotive Service Center in Brienigsville, PA, who returned for the next five years to give his Alternative Energy Presentation. The presentation grew from a classroom activity to a junior class assembly and gave birth to the Daniel Boone Senior High School’s Algae Bioreactor Research Group.
In the third year of the group, Daniel Boone Science students presented their background research to the entire junior class. In addition to the junior class, there were also a number predominate guests including Pennsylvania Representative David Maloney and State Senator Judith Schwank. There were two goals for this presentation. First, our group wished to educate their fellow students and their State Legislators on alternate energy types. Second, they wanted to encourage their classmates to become socially responsible citizens by engaging in the political process. Following the presentations, the Senator and the Representative took center stage and engaged in an active Q & A. Please see the links to the new articles below for more information related to this Legislator Visitation Day Assembly.
WFMZ News Coverage
Daniel Boone Students Share Research with area Legislators, The Southern Berks News, June 3, 2011
Boone Juniors are Teachers for the Day, The Southern Berks News, June 8, 2011
Students Have Big Plans for Biofuels Project, Lancaster Farming, June 25, 2011
Farm a Lesson in Solar Success – and Struggles, Lancaster Farming, June 15, 2012
During the 2012-2013 school year, the Research Group received two $500.00 STEM Grants from First Energy. This much needed funding opened the doors for the Research Group to transition from Academic Research to actual lab-based research. Over sixty Daniel Boone Science Students participated in the construction of much of the equipment needed to open the Algae Bioreactor lab. The local community had the opportunity to preview this partially completed algae lab equipment during the first annual Parents Science Lab Night in January 2013.
At Daniel Boone, Great Ideas as Easy as 1, 2, 3, The Reading Eagle, November 16, 2012
Boone Students Teach Parents Lesson, The Reading Eagle, February 4, 2013
High School Class Works with Bioreactor, The Reading Eagle, February 4, 2013
Role Reversal for One Night as Students Teach Their Parents, The Southern Berks News, February 19, 2013
Further details and updates about the Research Group’s current activities are available on the other tabs of this webpage.
WFMZ News Coverage
Daniel Boone Students Share Research with area Legislators, The Southern Berks News, June 3, 2011
Boone Juniors are Teachers for the Day, The Southern Berks News, June 8, 2011
Students Have Big Plans for Biofuels Project, Lancaster Farming, June 25, 2011
Farm a Lesson in Solar Success – and Struggles, Lancaster Farming, June 15, 2012
During the 2012-2013 school year, the Research Group received two $500.00 STEM Grants from First Energy. This much needed funding opened the doors for the Research Group to transition from Academic Research to actual lab-based research. Over sixty Daniel Boone Science Students participated in the construction of much of the equipment needed to open the Algae Bioreactor lab. The local community had the opportunity to preview this partially completed algae lab equipment during the first annual Parents Science Lab Night in January 2013.
At Daniel Boone, Great Ideas as Easy as 1, 2, 3, The Reading Eagle, November 16, 2012
Boone Students Teach Parents Lesson, The Reading Eagle, February 4, 2013
High School Class Works with Bioreactor, The Reading Eagle, February 4, 2013
Role Reversal for One Night as Students Teach Their Parents, The Southern Berks News, February 19, 2013
Further details and updates about the Research Group’s current activities are available on the other tabs of this webpage.