Silly Science Sunday soars to great heights

35 exhibitors converge on Wean Park to amuse, educate Valley children

By SEAN BARRON

Correspondent

YOUNGSTOWN -- The scientific dynamics and principles that allow for daring skateboard stunts are, in a sense, a contradiction: For many, the science is above them; yet for others, it's more down to earth.

"We're teaching the physics behind the ramp," Zack Felger, the Youngstown Skatepark Association's chairman, said. "We come every year to teach the science of skateparks. We want kids to take away how fun skateparks can be."

Life may have its ups and downs, but for many who bore witness to Mike Tomko and others associated with the skatepark perform a series of twists, turns and acrobatics with skateboards and bicycles on a ramp, that trajectory probably offered the perfect combination.

The series of quick moves on the ramp were among the attractions at OH WOW! The Roger & Gloria Jones Children's Center for Science & Technology's 16th annual Silly Science Sunday funfest Sunday afternoon in Wean Park, downtown.

The five-hour family-oriented event featured an estimated 35 science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics education exhibitors, many of whom are with the Mahoning County Career & Technical Center, the Trumbull Career & Technical Center, City Machine Technologies, Youngstown State University's College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, the Youngstown Model Railroad Association, the Butler Institute of American Art, PBS Western Reserve, Ultium Cells, the Mahoning Valley Amateur Radio Association and Summit Academy Schools. In addition, a pop-up library was available, courtesy of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County.

New to this year's gathering were the Raptor Hallow Sanctuary, United Protective Technologies and ProQuality Demo.

Behind the eye-catching, daring moves on the skateboard ramp, it's important for especially young people to better understand and appreciate the unseen science that makes such tricks possible, Felger said.

The gooeyness of it all didn't deter a long line of children from forming not so much to walk on water, but to walk through a trough of oobleck, a combination of water and cornstarch that has certain scientific properties that permit it to act as a solid and a liquid.

Walking fast or running through the material makes it feel less dense like water, though trudging slowly through oobleck can cause it to resemble something more akin to quicksand, said Theresa Morse, an event volunteer who, along with her daughter, Charlotte Morse, guided the children through the opaque material.

Another seeming contradiction in the science field lies in the idea that some of it is based on simple ideas, yet it carries the capability to lead to creating powerful, useful things, Donald J. Priour, a YSU assistant professor in YSU's Department of Physics and Astronomy, said.

"This is where I get to have fun," he added.

Priour was referring to the opportunity at the event to conduct demonstrations with an electrostatic machine called a Van de Graaff generator that physicist Robert J. Van de Graaff invented in 1930, the likes of which have moving belts to accumulate electric charge on an insulated and hollow metal terminal that, because it moves electrical charge mechanically, supplies high voltage direct current with very low current.

Priour's machine also featured a motor at its base near the small conveyor belt that sends the static charge up through the tubelike portion to the sphere at the top.

At one point, he held small scraps of paper next to the device to demonstrate the scientific effects of static electricity; shortly after, he held his head next to the machine, which attracted portions of his hair.

"I really want this to enrich their minds, especially in this day and age," Um-Abdullah Salah of Youngstown said about Sunday's gathering. "I want it to show them different, unique ways to use their brains."

Specifically, Salah was happy to see her daughter, Nouf Salah, 7, learning the basics of using a 3D printing pen.

"This gives them an easy introduction," Nick Leone, of the Youngstown-based America Makes Research Institute, said.

The type of pen with which Nouf and other children got acquainted is similar to a small hot glue gun but contains filament instead of common glue, he noted. Its value lies largely in providing the young users with a "simple intro to 3D printing techniques" and their applications, Leone added.

Also nearby was a 3D printer, he said.

Consistent and slow motion seemed more the draw for Levi Jones, 2, of Niles, who seemed mesmerized with watching model trains pass his way, courtesy of a display the Youngstown Model Railroad Association had brought.

"I hope to teach him a little about science, and see these cool trains that I didn't know would be here," Levi's grandmother, Tiffany Troutman of Austintown, said, adding that she also hoped her grandson might learn a bit about how basic mechanics work.

Notably, Silly Science Sunday's value lies in its ability to offer young people a chance to better understand the kinds of careers in science-related fields, as well as what many area businesses do daily, Colleen Ruby, OH WOW's operations director, noted.

"There is something for every interest, and we know festival-goers will leave excited to learn more about our partners and various STEAM subjects," Ruby said in an email.

As more baby boomers reach retirement age, a gap in such skill sets likely will widen and need to be filled, she said, adding that it's crucial to present potential career ideas to children when they're young, not wait until they reach high school.

OH WOW! was closed for Sunday's festival and is to remain so for annual maintenance through Sept. 30 before reopening Oct. 1, according to Ruby's email.