COSI - Columbus, Ohio's Dynamic Hands-On Science Center

Available Experts Sessions

Genetic Counseling: The Faces of Genetic Disease

February 9, 2010, 1:00pm ET
Grade Levels: 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
Subjects: Biology, Genetics, Ethics

Matt Pastore, pediatric genetic counselor at The Regional Genetics Center at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, will be discussing how genetics affects all of our lives. In pediatric genetics, children with various birth defects, delays, and/or significant family history are evaluated to determine if they have an underlying genetic cause. Genetic counseling for several common conditions will be presented, including risk assessment, genetic testing, and psychosocial counseling.

Students should prepare questions in advance, based on the information sent to the teacher. The test connection for this program is scheduled on February 4, 2010 at 2:00pm ET.

ELEMENTARY: Photosynthesis - What Do Trees Need to Grow

February 17, 2010, 11:00am ET
Grade Levels: 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th
Subjects: Plants, Biology, Light, Phases of Matter

Grades 3 through 6 are invited to join COSI demonstrator Cari Palmer to explore the amazing world of plants. Cari will begin with the question, "What are trees made of?" That will lead to an exploration of invisible gases, burning solids, and eerily glowing liquids. This experiment-packed 60-minute presentation will include an interactive hands-on experiment. It will be followed by an opportunity for students to ask questions about plants, light, and photosynthesis.

Students should prepare questions in advance, based on the information sent to the teacher. The test connection for this program is scheduled on February 11 at 2:00pm ET.

Forensic Psychology

February 22, 2010, 9:00am ET
Grade Levels: 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
Subjects: Psychology, Current Events, Law

Interested in learning more about the complex interface between mental illness and the criminal mind? Join Dr. Kukor to learn how individuals charged with crimes are psychologically evaluated to determine if they are mentally fit to stand trial and criminally responsible. In this interactive session, Dr. Kukor will guide participants through a step-by-step forensic analysis of a complex forensic case involving claimed insanity.

Terry Kukor Ph.D., ABPP (Forensic) is the Director of Forensic and Assessment Services for Netcare Corporation in Columbus, Ohio, a non-profit organization that provides crisis intervention and assessment services. He currently serves as an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology of Miami University, and as an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Drexel University. Dr. Kukor has performed hundreds of forensic evaluations, and conducts workshops on risk and threat assessment in both clinical and forensic contexts. He graduated with a BA in Psychology from Marquette University, and went on to earn a Master's and Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Miami University. He is one of only 250 diplomates in forensic psychology in the country that have been certified by the American Board of Forensic Psychology.

Students should be prepared to answer the 12 key questions about the case presented in the Thought Challenge, which will be sent to teachers in advance. Dr. Kukor will invite schools to answer these questions in round-robin format before he presents his answers to these questions. The test connection for this program is scheduled on February 18, 2010 at 2:00pm ET.

**SOLD OUT** ELEMENTARY: The Science of Harry Potter

February 22, 2010, 1:00pm ET
Grade Levels: 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th
Subjects: Chemistry, Physics, Literature

Magic for muggles! Learn how some of Harry Potter's magic is possible with modern science, through re-creating magic spells and phenomena using chemistry and physics. Elementary school students join COSI demonstrator, Ryan Westhoven, as he explores the incredible world of Harry Potter through amazing demonstrations and interactive hands-on experiments.

Students should prepare questions in advance, based on the information sent to the teacher. The test connection for this program is scheduled on February 18, 2010 at 2:00pm ET.

Imaging Single Atoms and Molecules With the Scanning Tunneling Microscope

February 26, 2010, 11:00am ET
Grade Levels: 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
Subjects: Math, Physics, Chemistry, Computer Science

Dr. Gupta uses a type of electron microscope that can image surfaces with atomic resolution and build structures one atom at a time. Single molecules can be synthesized on surfaces, and incorporated into molecular wires which conduct current. Nanoclusters of metal atoms can be built with atomic precision to explore how their properties evolve as a function of their size. These studies are related to the future of computing, electronics and energy technologies which hope to exploit the unique properties of nanoscale structures and materials.

Dr. Gupta has been an assistant professor of physics at Ohio State since 2004. In addition to science, his interests include reading, bicycling and whistling.

Students should prepare questions in advance, based on the information sent to the teacher. The test connection for this program is scheduled on February 24, 2010 at 2:00pm ET.


Students should have prior knowledge of: The periodic table of elements, general structure of atoms (protons, electrons, neutrons).

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Moon Walker

February 26, 2010, 1:00pm ET
Grade Levels: 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
Subjects: Space Exploration, History of Space Travel

"Apollo may be the only achievement for which our generation is remembered, a 1000 years from now," said author of 2001: Space Odyssey, Arthur C. Clark

Twelve Americans walked on the moon. Others have tried but only Americans succeeded. No human has been out of earth orbit since 1972 when the last man on the moon, Gene Cernan returned home with his Apollo 17 crew. In the race to the moon with the Russians, Ed Buckbee was a NASA spokesman who worked with all the Apollo astronauts, including the now famous moon walkers. His personal stories of this brotherhood of astronauts who competed for moon shots are the real deal. The competition for rides, the close calls, near tragedies and splashdown parties are told as he experienced them as a close colleague of these famous space flyers. He relates how they trained and encounters he had with the astronauts before they became famous moon walkers.

Buckbee describes Neil Armstrong's descent to the moon as his fuel runs out with only seconds remaining. He takes you behind the scenes during the Apollo I fire that killed three astronauts and Apollo 13 that nearly became the lost in space mission, "Houston, we have a problem." Ride along with John Young as he drives the lunar rover, the ultimate driving machine on the moon. Only three days by Saturn rocket to the moon, Buckbee describes the mammoth machine and you listen in as the Saturn riders exclaim, "Whew, what a ride!" Blast off the moon with the last man to walk on the moon, Gene Cernan, as he flies his moon ship home. Where are those moonwalkers today? What do you do after you have been to the moon? Buckbee takes you to the moon and back in his exciting and dramatic MOON WALKER presentation.

Ed Buckbee, alumnus of NASA public affairs, lecturer, founder of Space Camp and Astronaut Hall of Fame and author of The Real Space Cowboys and 50 Years of Rockets and Spacecraft, presents a Power Point presentation with rarely seen manned space flight photos and videos, designed for all audiences.

Students should prepare questions in advance, based on the information sent to the teacher. The test connection for this program is scheduled on February 24, 2010 at 2:00pm ET.

Astronomy: The Search for Life in the Universe

March 2, 2010, 9:00am ET
Grade Levels: 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
Subjects: Physics, Astronomy, Biology

We are privileged to live in a remarkable time. For the first time in human history, we are beginning to glimpse answers to some of our oldest questions: Are there other worlds out there? Are there other solar systems like ours? Do those systems contain Earthlike planets? Do those planets harbor life? Dr. Scott Gaudi will provide a guided tour of the golden age of the exploration of extrasolar worlds and the search for extraterrestrial life, focusing on the hunt for analogs to our solar system, and the search for the 'pale blue dot': another world just like our own.

Scott Gaudi is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Astronomy at the Ohio State University. Previously, he was a Menzel Fellow at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, and a Hubble Fellow at the Institute for Advanced Study. His research focuses on topics related to the search for extrasolar planets. His work has been featured in the New York Times, the Washington Post, and Newsweek, and he was named "one of the 20 scientists to watch in the next 20 years" by Discover magazine in 2000, and one of the "10 Rising Stars of Astronomy" by Astronomy magazine in 2008. He was awarded the Helen B. Warner Prize in 2009 by the American Astronomical Society for "significant contribution to observation or theoretical astronomy."

Students should prepare questions in advance, based on the information sent to the teacher.The test connection for this program is scheduled on February 26, 2010 at 2:00pm ET.

*SOLD OUT* Gene Therapy for Diseases of the Nervous System

March 11, 2010, 1:00pm ET
Grade Levels: 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
Subjects: Biology, Biotechnology, Genetics, Anatomy, Physiology, Gene Therapy, Molecular Biology, Nervous System

Students should have prior knowledge of: DNA, Genes, Neurons, Motor Neuron, Gene Therapy.

Diseases of the nervous system are devastating, affecting both children and adults. One neurodegenerative disease affecting adults is termed Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease. ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Motor neurons reach from the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to the muscles throughout the body. The progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in ALS eventually leads to their death. Gene therapy to deliver genes to protect these motor neurons is showing promise. Scientists and clinicians are both diligently working to find a cure or treatment for this disease.

Dr. Brian Kaspar, a Professor at Columbus Children's Research Institute and The Ohio State University, will discuss the exciting advancements that have been made on this front. Dr. Kaspar and his laboratory are working to understand this disease and develop new therapies. Dr. Kaspar is a leading expert on the development and use of gene therapy vectors for neurodegenerative diseases.

Students should prepare questions in advance, based on the information sent to the teacher.The test connection for this program is scheduled on March 3, 2010 at 2:00pm ET.


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ELEMENTARY: Reptiles Live!

March 11, 2010, 11:00am ET
Grade Levels: 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th
Subjects: Reptiles, Habitats, Animal Adaptations

Ever see a reptile up close? Meet COSI's snakes, turtles, and lizards, conduct your own slithery, scaley experiment, and learn more about the life of a reptile. Traci Weaver, COSI's Creepy Crawly Curator, will show you up close and personal how cool reptiles really are. Learn about their homes, their lifestyles, their favorite foods, and more! You might even get to see a snake eat!

Students should prepare questions in advance, based on the information sent to the teacher. The test connection for this program is scheduled on March 3, 2010 at 2:00pm ET.

ELEMENTARY: G.R.O.S.S. - Functions of the Human Body

March 30, 2010, 9:00am ET
Grade Levels: 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th
Subjects: Body, Scientific Method, Health

Gross, gooey, smelly, slimy, icky and sticky are words you might use when describing the functions of the human body. COSI is knee deep in obscure and unflattering information. To learn more about Grimy, Repulsive, Odoriferous, and Sloppy Science (G.R.O.S.S.), join COSI's Outreach Educator Derek Bringardner to find out what causes our bodies to do disgusting things through hands-on experiments and engaging demonstrations.

Students should prepare questions in advance, based on the information sent to the teacher. The test connection for this program is scheduled on March 25th at 2:30pm ET.

Forensics: Latent Prints

March 31, 2010, 1:00pm ET
Grade Levels: 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
Subjects: Forensics, Logic, Problem Solving, Scientific Method

Deborah Lanata, an Evidence Technician with the Columbus Police Detective Bureau, will show how a crime scene is dusted for prints, surfaces that work and don't work for latent fingerprint development, and tips and tricks to get good lifts from various surfaces. Deborah has FBI training in advanced latent print development and ten-print comparison. She also helps with teaching new police officers (the recruits) about proper crime scene procedures and first responder duties at crime scenes. Rob Lawson, the Columbus Police Latent Unit Supervisor, will discuss how the latent lifts Ms. Lanata brings him are examined and how they attempt to match the prints to a suspect.

Ms. Lanata has been with C.P.D. for over 14 years and regularly responds to crime scenes. She is also currently preparing to become certified by the International Association for Identification as a Crime Scene Analyst. Mr. Lawson has been with the Columbus Police Department for over 19 years He became supervisor of the Latent Unit in March 2003 and has taken many training classes through the F.B.I. and other police agencies. Mr. Lawson is now the 1st Vice President with the O.I.O. (Ohio Identification Officers Association).

Students should prepare questions in advance, based on the information sent to the teacher. The test connection for this program is scheduled on March 25th at 2:30pm ET.

Forensic Handwriting Identification

April 9, 2010, 1:00pm ET
Grade Levels: 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
Subjects: Forensics, Logic, Problem Solving, Citizenship, Government, Non-traditional

Kathleen Stuebe will present information on forensic document examination and handwriting identification as performed in crime laboratories. Using mock evidence, Ms. Stuebe will challenge your students to help solve a "crime" by analyzing handwriting. She will then demonstrate how this handwriting is examined in order to determine the identification of the writer. Ms. Stuebe has been a Forensic Document Examiner since 1999 and is a Criminalist at the Columbus Police Crime Laboratory.

Students should prepare questions in advance, based on the information sent to the teacher. The test connection for this program is scheduled on April 7th at 2:00pm ET.

Students should have prior knowledge of: Basic understanding of the criminal justice system.

Artificial Intelligence in Game Playing

April 15, 2010, 9:00am ET
Grade Levels: 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
Subjects: Computer Programming, Artificial Intelligence, Games, Computers

How can a computer be programmed to play a game like Connect 4? Is it possible for a computer player to be better at a game than the person that programmed it? Dr. Bogaerts will discuss a general strategy that can be applied to many different games. Students will design components of a computer Connect 4 player that uses this strategy. Various designs will be discussed, and the session will end with a matchup of human versus machine.

Dr. Bogaerts is an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Wittenberg University. He teaches a variety of courses, including artificial intelligence, algorithms, and introductory programming. He also conducts research in artificial intelligence and parallel computation.

Students should prepare questions in advance, based on the information sent to the teacher. The test connection for this program is scheduled on April 13th at 2
:00pm ET.

Developing Exercise Training Programs

May 7, 2010, 9:00am ET
Grade Levels: 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
Subjects: Sports, Athletics, Physiology, Biology, Physical Education, Nutrition Science

Dr. Timothy Kirby, Associate Professor Emeritus of the School of Physical Activity and Educational Services at The Ohio State University College of Education and Human Ecology will discuss the physiological basis for developing a training program and the most effective techniques to improve performance in sports and exercise. Based on his perspective as a former collegiate coach and as an exercise physiologist, he will discuss training programs used by athletes at various levels of achievement, with suggestions for implementing programs for anyone wishing to perform at his/her best. Dr. Kirby will challenge students to think and act from a science based perspective as they develop programs designed to improve performance and health.

Students should prepare questions in advance, based on the information packet sent to the teacher. The test connection for this program is scheduled on May 5, 2010 at 2:00pm ET.

Space Cowboys: What It Takes to Put a Man in Space

May 11, 2010, 1:00pm ET
Grade Levels: 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
Subjects: Space Travel, Astronaut Training

In 1959, seven pilots were selected to train as America's first astronauts, and would become known as the Mercury 7. These men, who jockeyed for the best flying jobs in the military, began competing for rides on rockets. Most would eventually vie for the ultimate ride to the moon. Join Ed Buckbee, as he describes the dreams of astronauts flying higher, faster and farther than anyone in the known universe. You are invited behind the scenes to witness the competition and the conflict between NASA engineers designing capsules and those who would pilot them. They were our first astronauts. They are The Real Space Cowboys.

Ed Buckbee has been associated with the U.S. space program for five decades. He began his career as a NASA public affairs officer during the l960's working with all of the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo astronauts and for rocket scientist Wernher von Braun. He covered Alan Shepard's Mercury Redstone launch in 1961 and was present when the Apollo astronauts launched for the moon landings. Mr. Buckbee will discuss his experiences with the early NASA missions, as well as how it takes the combined efforts of engineers, architects, dieticians, communications specialists, and more, to achieve the daunting task of launching humans into space and returning them safely to Earth.

Mr. Buckbee is director emeritus of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center and the founder of Space Camp that has graduated over 500,000 students and teachers. He has also developed Space Camp programs in five other countries. Collaborating with Alan Shepard and Wally Schirra, they established the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame, which honors America's astronauts. An author, lecturer and advocate of space exploration, he continues to be associated with America's space program and NASA through appearances on CNN, Late Night with David Letterman, Good Morning America, Today Show, BBC-TV and the History and Discovery channels.

Students should prepare questions in advance, based on the information sent to the teacher.The test connection for this program is scheduled on May 6, 2010 at 2:00pm ET.

Computers Working at the Speed of Light

May 13, 2010, 1:00pm ET
Grade Levels: 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
Subjects: Computers, Technology, Nanotechnology,

Are you tired of waiting for your favorite songs, movies, or internet files to download? Imagine being able to retrieve a music file from the internet in the blink of an eye. How can future computers be developed to process information nearly instantaneously? Instead of depending on electric currents, tomorrow's computers will use beams of light!

Join Dr. Reano to learn how laser beams are being used on the nanoscale to develop not only faster computers, but also better sensors, speedier communications devices, and microscopic laboratories.

Dr. Reano holds Bachelor degrees in Physics and Electrical Engineering as well as Master and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering. He is currently an Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at The Ohio State University where his research focuses on integrated optics, hybrid wireless and photonic devices, and nanotechnology for next generation sensors, communications systems, and computing.

Students should prepare questions in advance, based on the information sent to the teacher. The test connection for this program is scheduled on May 10 at 3:00pm ET.

Forensic Anthropology: What the Dead Tell Us About the Living

May 17, 2010, 1:00pm ET
Grade Levels: 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
Subjects: Biology, Archaeology, Forensic Anthropology, Biological Anthropology, Scientific Process.

Our skeletons are a reservoir of information about who we are - gender, age, size, health, and activity. In this presentation, Dr. Clark Larsen discusses what skeletons tell us, whether thousands of years old or from a recent crime scene. Dr. Larsen received his Ph.D. in biological anthropology from the University of Michigan in 1980, and previously taught at the University of North Carolina before coming to Ohio State University. At Ohio State, he chairs the Department of Anthropology. He is a leading expert on bioarchaeology, the study of human remains from archaeological settings. His work takes him all over the world. He is especially interested in the long term history of human health, from 10,000 years ago to the present.

Students should prepare questions in advance, based on the information sent to the teacher. The test connection for this program is scheduled on May 13, 2010 at 2:15pm ET.

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