Greensboro Daily Photo

Z is for Zymolysis

Zymolysis is the process of fermentation* and craft beer-making has taken North Carolina by storm. The above photo is of the fermentation vats at Gibb's Hundred on Lewis Street, a new brewery in Greensboro. The person to the right is Erin Will who has been working there since Gibb's opened about three months ago. At the moment, Gibb's has three brews on tap. If you are over 21, stop in and Erin will let you sample something. Erin is passionate about her job, so much so that she is a student at Rockingham Community College in Eden, working towards an associate's degree in brewing, distillation, and fermentation.

Not only are North Carolina's community colleges offering frementation studies, Appalachian State University offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Fermentation Science. The programs are about more than the science of brewing and fermenting. They also address marketing, business development, and entrepreneurship. Locally, Gibb's Hundred, Natty Greene's, Pig Pounder Brewery, and Red Oak Brewery will be seeking people like Erin who are not only passionate about their jobs but also experts in fermentation! Today is ABC Wednesday and Z is for zymolysis.

This concludes our ABC  S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) Series. Stop back and learn about our our new ABC Wednesday theme next week!

*zymolysis, definition, here.

Y is for Yield

Last week, we featured NC A&T State University and their state of the art x-ray machine, here. Dr. Collins spent a lot of time showing us what the x-ray CT machine would yield. To simplify the process and concept for non-scientists, he has a presentation in which an apple was scanned. Below, you will see the results. Researchers can image the item at various stages, stripping away matter until precisely what you are looking for remains. In the case of the apple, increasingly, the skin and flesh are not visible, revealing seeds and fiber. You can explain to someone that apples have fiber; however, through this x-ray, you can see the fiber (see below). That is a simplistic view of the capability of the Nonotom-M (TM), x-ray CT machine. Literally, it is a window into the very essence of a product, from an apple to an implanted metal alloy.

As we close out our final ABC Wednesday entry for the year, Y (the penultimate entry in our ABC S.T.E.A.M. series) is for "yield."  To yield, in the sense of productivity, is to produce something as a result of time, effort, and work. As non-scientists, our fact finding mission for the A-Z science series has yielded much knowledge and personal growth. Hopefully, it has meant something to you, too. Happy New Years Eve to Greensboro as well as to everyone who is taking the time to read our final post of 2014. See you next year!

 

X is for X Ray

North Carolina A&T State University has a state-of-the-art x-ray machine. The above photo features not only the machine but Dr. Boyce Collins a researcher who is as committed to collaborating and sharing research centered around this multi-million dollar Nonotom-M (TM) x-ray CT Machine. The Engineering Research Center for Revolutionizing Metallic Biomaterials acquired it through a National Science Foundation award.*  As we understand it, this scientific tomography and 3D metrology machine provides 360 degree- 3-D video images from the nano-level on up. Those of us who are not scientists understand it as something akin to stitch photography where photos are patched together to create a coherent whole. The technology would make it possible to evaluate a bridge for metal fatigue without even disrupting traffic flow. On one project, NC A&T is collaborating with several other institutions to "develop and commercialize novel bioresorbable metal alloys that have potential applications in implantable medical devices."*

We wish every high school student in Greensboro could spend an afternoon at NC A&T learning about the above machine and all of its uses.  A few minutes with Dr. Collins and we wanted to affiliate with the project. It is a great time to be a student interested in science- especially at NC A&T State University. Today is ABC Wednesday and X is for X-Ray!

See our A-W contributions to our S.T.E.A.M. series, here. 

*learn more about the ERC and their projects, here.

W is for Water

Fiery winter sunsets can warm a cold, gray day. Without leaves on the trees, the colors of the low-to-the-horizon sun illuminate the water's surface like the pages of an old manuscript.  Today's photo was taken to Lake Higgins* in northwest Greensboro at the bridge on Carlson Dairy Road. Constructed in 1956, Lake Higgins is a 226 acre municipal reservoir that allows rowboats, canoes, and kayaks. While it is the smallest of our local lakes, it offers some of the best fishing. On the day we were there, all was peaceful and calm, as if we were the only people for miles around. Even if you are not interested in being on the water, the trailways around Lake Higgins add another recreational option.

Today is ABC Wednesday and as we approach the end of the S.T.E.A.M. alphabet series, W is for water. Keeping our earth's water clean is extremely important. Water is an endless source of research in the health and life sciences, is vital to living organisms, and plays an important role in industry.  According to the Environmental Protection Agency,** 47% of America's assessed lake acres are polluted and, five trillion pieces of plastic are floating in the world's oceans. Let's hope that some of Greensboro's S.T.E.M. students are working on keeping our water supplies clean and potable. W is for water, especially clean water!

* See our original post of that photo, here.

** Reference, here.

V is for Velocity

The above photo, taken on a recent rainy night, is a scene on Spring Garden at Kenilworth Street, near some newer construction at UNCG. Rain can get us down and feel oppressive when combined with darkness. However, as seen above, with lights are around, wet streets glow and appear quite decorative. The scene feels magically festive, like a street decorated for Christmas.

Today, we share this scene and connect it to "V" for "velocity." Lately, in the Triad, there have been several traffic related deaths, many involving excessive speed. Let us remind our friends and loved ones, especially those teens, to use good judgement when driving and to stay within the speed limit. It would also be nice to find a way for the state to continue funding drivers education. I cannot imagine being on the road with students who haven't had drivers education. Today is ABC Wednesday and "V" is for "velocity" a specification of speed and direction of motion. See our A-U STEAM entries, here.

U is for University

The above photo is Samuel and Angeline Smith Hall on the campus of North Carolina A&T University. The School of Technology is housed there, as is the S.T.E.M. Early College Program. If admitted to the School of Technology, the school helps students become "proficient in the application of basic science and math and prepare(s) them for employment by nurturing their creativity, training them in management and communication, and providing them with the advanced knowledge they need for technical, leadership, and educational roles."* That sounds like a pretty exciting college major. In the meantime, down the hall, high school students can be dually enrolled in college classes while earning their high school diploma. In their four years at NCA&T, the high school students gain considerable expertise in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

NCA&T also boasts having the "Best Homecoming on Earth." Having a school that provides a relevant, 21st century education, while nurturing a sense of community and belonging sounds like an amazing educational opportunity.

While dreading the end of the alphabet for ABC Wednesday, coming across such a great place to represent "U," we are energized and confident we'll find a V,W,X (???) ,Y, and Z. For our S.T.E.A.M. Round of ABC Wednesday, "U" is for "university," specifically North Carolina A&T University. You gave us STEM long before STEM was a household word! Go, Aggies!

*see the S of T website at NCA&T, here.

T is for Trees

The above trees were glowing brightly in the parking lot near Arigato and Earthfare on Battleground Avenue. Trees are natures filtation system. They purify the air and provide us with oxygen. They help reduce erosion and moderate the climate. They are a habitat for many critters, provide relief from the summer sun; playing an important role in the ecosystem. From the science of bonsai to the art of painting and drawing them, trees provide great visual appeal. As Greensboro continues to grow, it will be crucial to plan our green spaces and to plan space for trees.

Today is ABC Wednesday and, for our S.T.E.A.M. Round, "T" is for trees. As you prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving tomorrow, say a little thanks for the beauty of trees and all they do for us. And, as we enter the season of leafless trees, let us remember that spring is a mere four months away!

 

S is for SciQuarium

The SciQuarium is a relatively new addition to the Greensboro Science Center on Lawndale Drive. It is a place where learning takes place and memories are made. From the minute they walk in, until the minute they leave, people are captivated. The SciQuarium is North Carolina's only inland aquarium. As stated on the center's website, the SciQuarium features "a variety of water-dependent animals including penguins, sharks, otters, eels, stingrays, a rare fishing cat, an anaconda, and fish of all shapes and colors" (reference).

If you have been going to the Science Center since it opened in 1957, likely, you are marveling at the expansion over the years. It is hard to believe that the improvements and additions will continue until 2020. If you are used to the old petting zoo with the pesky goats and small mammals, you will be shocked to see the touch tank and all the other features of the SciQuarium. In the above photo, we can only imagine what the little boy will learn as he and his dad meander along the indoor trail. Today is ABC Wednesday, and for our S.T.E.A.M. Edition, S is for SciQuarium!

R is for Rainwater

The above photo, while not particularly memorable in itself, features an outstanding example of how the University of North Carolina Greensboro is committed to sustainablility. To the left, you see the south side of the School of Education building. The building, Gold LEED-certified, has multiple features to harvest and filter rainwater and runoff from the rooftop. A bio-retention pond and sand filtration system filters storm water run-off.* The porous rocks and grassy plantings help with water absorption around the building's open space. The building has more than double the open space for LEED certification. The contour of the landscaping accomodates a considerable amount of water.

To help orient yourself in the photo, notice Yum-Yum Better Ice Cream and Hot Dogs peeking through on Spring Garden Street. Hard to believe Yum-Yum is almost 100 years older than this new state-of-the-art education building. Nice to live in a community that honors tradition yet continues to evolve and grow with the times. Today is ABC Wednesday and for GDP's S.T.E.A.M. series, R is for rainwater.

*reference.

Q is for Quagmire

This Greensboro "quagmire" can be found on North Battleground at the next leg of the Urban Loop. The above swampy, wetlands that go from dry to wet, depending on the weather, are being altered so that the road can be built. 

Quagmire can have a slightly muddy definition. In geography, it is a soft boggy area of land; it can also be ( literally or metaphorically) an awkwardly complex or hazardous situation. Let's hope the above is not the latter and to be sure, it is the former. Monitoring the construction process of the Greensboro Urban Loop is interesting. We are trying to document how the road crew will make the land sufficiently solid to support a heavily traveled bypass. Today is ABC Wednesday and for our ABC S.T.E.A.M. Series, "Q" is for "quagmire." Regardless of where you live, we challenge you to use the word "quagmire" today!

P is for Penguins

Greensboro's Natural Science Center is home to a small group of African penguins. At about two feet tall and 5-7 pounds, these flightless birds are on the small side for penguins. To put this into perspective,  the Emperor penguin can be up to 3'7" tall and about 75 pounds (wikipedia). The African penguins at our science center are fun to watch as they dive and plunge for food. When they do so, a stream of air bubbles surfaces behind them. This bird is at risk of extinction. At the beginning of the 20th century, there close to a million and a half African penguins and there are believed to be approximately 55,000 in existence and they could be extinct within 15 years.

Greensboro's own science center is very involved in conservation efforts and this past August, we were lucky enough to have two chicks born in captivity. The Greensboro Science Center is part of the Species Survival Plan (SSP). Spend the afternoon at our Sciquarium and you can learn so much about these great birds and the efforts for helping the species survive. Today is ABC Wednesday and for this S.T.E.A.M. round, P is for penguin!

O is for Oxygen

Do you ever take adventure walks, looking for curious things to photograph? A world awaits, and not always at eye level. It is interesting to imagine a pipe leading to chilled water. That’s what we uncovered while walking near Tate Street recently. These small green plants discovered the water source, too. Like humans, plants need water and chilled H20 is an added bonus for them, too! The plants, need the water so they can grow and produce oxygen for humans.

Today’s photo evokes as many questions as answers. Why is the water chilled? Why is the cover painted bright orange? How long has this pipe been here? Is it still used? How large will the plants grow? How much oxygen can they produce in their lifetime? We’re sharing this photo with our S.T.E.A.M., ABC Wednesday, friends. As for all of the questions, that is science at its best. Asking the right questions can be as important as finding answers. Today, on ABC Wednesday, O is for Oxygen.... and Orange. Thank you, dear readers, for allowing us to Opine.... once a day, every day.

N is for Nanoscience

Located on East Lee Street, on the former farm of North Carolina A&T University (NC A&T), is the Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering (JSNN). The building is a collaborative venture between NC A&T and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG). The 105,000 square ft., state-of-the-art  research facility is used for solving critical problems with nanotechnology. If you are like us and don't have a working definition of nanotechnology on the tip of your tongue: It is the study of extremely small things in science, addressessing dimensions and tolerances of less than 100 nanometers. "Nano" is a prefix meaning one-billionth. Nanotechnology is used manipulating atoms and molecules. So, that is small! 

In a review of their website, we were impressed that JSNN maintains an online archives. If updated over the years, they will have impressive documentation of major events in the building. For example, the first dissertation defence for a Ph.D. in the field of nanoengineering was held on September, 19, 2014. Candidate Dattaji K Shinde defended his dissertation entitled, "Effect of Electrospun Nanofibers on the Interlaminar Strength of Laminated Fiberglass Composite." That will give you an idea of the complexity of the issues addressed and problems solved at JSNN. Greensboro is lucky to have this wonderful facility.

Today is ABC Wednesday and "N" is for "Nanoscience." See our A-M in the S.T.E.A.M. round, here. Stop back tomorrow and we'll take you inside the building.

 

 

M is for Mathematical Evidence

The UNCG Weatherspoon Art Gallery is one of Greensboro's great places to visit to enjoy art and to take a little rest from the daily grind. The above photo is a quiet alcove on the second floor. As seen in the above photo, it overlooks Tate Street at Spring Garden with Aycock Auditorium on the left. Entrance to the Weatherspoon is free and sitting and reading in pure silence is free, too. While sitting there on Sunday (we were the only people in the museum, other than the guards), we saw this book on the coffee table, Candy Jernigan's* book "Evidence."  The book provides evidence of her travels in Europe. One of the chapters provides mathematical evidence. 

This book chapter is an example of how math and art go together and why the "A" is in S.T.E.A.M. Science, technology, engineering, art, and math. So many branches of science and art rely on mathematical evidence. Today is ABC Wednesday and "M" is for math, metrics, and mathematical evidence. See our A-L, here. 

Read more about the deceased artist, here.

L is for Lab

A teaching laboratory is a place equipped for experiments and for teaching. Labs don't have to be elaborately stocked. However, they do need a teacher who has a solid lesson plan and a great understanding of the concept(s) at hand, with enough equipment to scaffold the learners' understanding. The above materials were partial preparation for a lab on osteoporosis at the Middle College at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG).

The Guilford County School District has two S.T.E.M. high schools, one on UNCG's campus and one at North Carolina A&T University. The UNCG program emphasizes health and life sciences and the A&T program emphasizes engineering. Both programs teach students to use the engineering design process. Hopefully, the students on both campuses will graduate and go on to become scientists running laboratories around the United States-- or the world.

Today is ABC Wednesday and for our S.T.E.A. M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) Series, "L" is for "laboratory. (See A-K, here).

K is for Kinetic Energy

Be it radiant, thermal, sound, electrical/light, or mechanical, kinetic energy is the energy that an object possesses due to motion. Acceleration, velocity, and the motion of a rotating cement truck is a good example of kinetic energy. The above photo of a trestle, pile of sand and a couple of cement trucks was taken on one corner of the giant cement lot at Chandler Concrete Company. On Saturday, kinetic energy was on hold as the whole operation was at rest. 

Chandler Concrete Company, located at 1424 Mill Street in Greensboro, was originally founded in 1946. It has been family owned and operated for over 40 years. On any given work day, the sounds of energy in motion can be heard from Starbucks, Cycles d'Oro, the Red Collection, and all of the other businesses in that mini-valley between Westover Terrace and Battleground Avenue at Mill Street. The history of concrete dates back to Roman times and not a lot has changed about the recipe that can include calcinated like, clay, sand, gravel, and water, put in motion to make concrete. Cement power can be quite hazardous to skin, eyes, and lungs; so, hats off to those people who have made mixing and pouring cement their profession. 

Today, on ABC Wednesday, we're sharing this photo for our ABC Wednesday S.T.E.A.M.* Round and K is for kinetic energy!

*Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics

 

 

J is for Joint Effort

The underground pedestrian tunnel linking Lee Street at Glenwood Avenue with UNCG, has been completed since April, 2014. The 170 foot tunnel cost ten million dollars.* The North Carolina Railroad partnered with the University and contributed a million dollars for the project. As seen in the photos, above and below, the tunnel is hauntingly beautiful. It is open, clean, and convenient. Students can leave campus safely and get to housing in a tunnel with ample lighting and a camera to monitor safety of pedestrians and bicyclists. The waffled ceiling and wavy walls minimize noise in the tunnel. Also from the Lee Street side, you can see blue paint; however, as seen in the above photo, from the main campus side, only gold is visible. The Lee Street side features amphitheatre-like seating where students can gather.

For ABC Wednesday today, for this S.T.E.A.M. Round, we're featuring J for JOINT EFFORT; the joining of two sides of campus as well as a joint effort between the university and the community. Increasingly, the scientific world is emphasizing collaboration and joint effort. If you look closely, you can see students in the first photo, and a train crossing in one of the photos below.

*reference, News & Record, here.

I is for Imagination

 Last weekend, at Center City Park seemed like an imagination factory. Little children squeeled with delight as a teenager, dressed as Spiderman crawled and lunged around on stage. So many events took place downtown last weekend, it wasn't even clear why Spiderman was there. However, as seen in the above photo, he did a mighty fine job of keeping the attention of the little ones.

For our ABC Wednesday S.T.E.A.M. Round, we thought we would feature "I" for "imagination" because science is a lot of math and science combined with a little imagination. The more you imagine the possibilities, the more likely you are to discover something new. But, at the end of the day, you so need the science. Imagine the possibilities for the above little ones as they navigate the innocent, uncomplicated world where Spiderman greets you, when you least expect it. Another great thing about Greensboro. It is a great place to nurture your imagination.  

H is for Heart Health

What could do a heart better than exercising the body and the mind? In the above photo, we have both, bicyclists riding past the public library. Greensboro has many bike clubs; some expect riders to maintain a rigorous pace and others are happy to let riders pedal along at a leisurely pace. Regardless of pace, bike riding is good for heart health. Greensboro has many libraries. All are inviting places and are good for brain health.

This month, the American Heart Association is having the Guilford Heart Ball.  There is a healthy heart challenge. If you want to vote for one of the finalists, go to the Bank of Oak Ridge website. They are looking for three people to become Healthy Heart Challenge winners. Hopefully, you are doing something to keep your heart healthy. We want our GDP readers to be around for a really long time! If you aren't sure what to do, go research ideas at the public library.

We're sharing this post with our friends at ABC Wednesday and for the S.T.E.A.M. Round,  "H" is for "heart health."

G is for Gibbon

Meet Duke, a rare Javan Gibbon, one of the few born in captivity, and born right here in Greensboro, N.C. According to the Greensboro Science Center's website, in 2012, they were selected to be the second accredited zoo in the U.S.A. to breed Javan Gibbons. It is one of the rarest Gibbon species in the world and is only found in the wild on the island of Java.

Gibbons spend most of their lives in trees and move from Point A to Point B by a movement known as brachiation, a swinging motion that enables them to move up to 35 miles an hour, swinging between branches up to 50 feet apart. Watching these aerodynamically sound creatures at the Greensboro Science Center is fascinating. Little Duke, however, loves to take time to stop and pose for the camera like he did for us this summer. It was touch and go for little Duke, because his mother wasn't overly interested in mothering. Read Duke's adventure below.*

In the meantime, today is ABC Wednesday and G for our STEAM Round is Gibbon.

*read more about Duke and the GSC's gibbons,  here.

 

F is for Forensics

The Middle College on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (MC@UNCG) has a tradition of holding summer camp for incoming freshmen. Since students come to the middle college from all over Guilford County (there is no specific attendance zone), having team building events is a way for students to develop a sense of community. The above photo shows a crime scene that students analyzed in order to try to solve the crime. The week's activities introduce the rising freshmen to forensic science and the engineering design process. This design process is important, epsecially since MC@UNCG is a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathmatics (STEM) focused school.

The above photo was taken in the HHP building where the "crime" was reported to have taken place. These camps always prove to be successful for getting the beginning of the year off to a great start. Today is ABC Wednesday and for our STEAM series (the "a" is for incorporating arts)...... F is for forensics.

E is for Engineering

Local universities and colleges are getting ready for school to start up again. Things are eerily quiet now. The above photo features McNair Hall, the School of Engineering building on NCA&T's campus. McNair Hall, located on East Market Street, is named for physicist and NASA astronaut, Ronald McNair. McNair accomplished so much in his short life, including earning a Ph.D. He died at the young age of 35 when the space shuttle Challenger disintegrated in 1986. 

NCA&T is one of North Carolina's big engineering schools and we are proud to boast that it is right here in Greensboro. According to NCA&T's website, their engineering degree programs are distributed across six departments: chemical biological and bio engineering; civil, architectural and environmental engineering; computer science; electrical and computer engineering; industrial and systems engineering; mechanical engineering and the interdisciplinary computational science and engineering program. They are the home of the National Science Foundation's Engineering Research Center for Revolutionizing Metallic Biomaterials.* The 21st century is a time of great advances in science and engineering. It is so important to encourage our children to pursue engineering. Engineering majors work extremely hard; however, (to quote TED) at the end of the day, they are developing ideas worth sharing.....

Today is ABC Wednesday and for our Science Technology Engineering Arts and Mathematics Round (STEAM link here), E is for Engineering! In about another week, McNair Hall will be teeming with brilliant people conducting brilliant engineering research.

*reference.

 

D is for Dentistry

 According to the website of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, "(t)ooth decay is the most common chronic infectious disease of childhood." It is even more common than asthma. The North Carolina Oral Health Section even has a motto, "North Carolina children- cavity free forever" and the Division of Public Health, even has a strategic plan (see here). Unfortunately, North Carolina ranks in the bottom five states with respect to school-based dental sealant treatment programs (reference). Let's hope our state can do something about that situation.

Dentistry is changing before our eyes. Dentists can now make crowns with 3-D printers. The process is fast and accurate. There are so many innovations that have come along in the past few years. If you are looking for a new dentist, ask about equipment that they have in-house. With all the institutions of higher education in Greensboro, none has a school of dentistry. The only two in the state are at the Universityof North Carolina in Chapel Hill and in Greenville at East Carolina University. 

The above photo was taken at the Greensboro Science Center to remind us of dental health and dentistry. These teeth could use some cleaning and floss! Today is ABC Wednesday and D is for our Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math Round, D is for Dentistry.

C is for Camp, Science Camp

It is amazing how many summer camps are held at the Greensboro Science Center. If you are between the age of 4-15, they have something for you. By the time you are 16, volunteer positions available. They offer science camps, engineering camps, chemistry, CSI, aquatic, animation, geology and so much more. As with the above group, the science center can serve as a day within a camp. The children in the blue shirts were attending a Christian camp at their home church. One of their day-long outings was to come to the science center. In this photo, they are heading into the animal house that is an indoor component to the new zoo. And, indeed, when they got inside, they had fun. They saw snakes, a skunk, giant insects, and a few more touchable critters, like rabbits. They were an inquisitive little group.

There are so many job opportunities in the science field. Let's hope some of the above youngsters want to become scientists and work on the big scientific questions of the day. Today is ABC Wednesday and for our S.T.E.A.M. round, C is for camp, specifically science camp.

B is for Bees

Bees are those ever-feared-by-children, flying cousins of wasps and ants. They are the great pollinators. They buzz from flower to flower feeding on pollen and nectar. The above bumblebee is working away on a giant sunflower in the Triad. Bumblebees play an important role as wild pollinators. Since bumblebees are at risk of extinction, in 2006 the Bumblebee Conservation Trust was established and In 2011, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature set up a group to review the threatened status of bumbleebees (reference). 

Bees haven't always been around. The history of the evolution of bees is really interesting* There are over 20,000 species. It is hard to imagine the world without bees. However, their extinction is a possible scenario. For our young students interested in pursuing degrees in science, melittology  and apiology are branches of entomology that could use researchers.

As for Greensboro, we can help by promoting ecological farming and trying to avoid pesticides. Today is ABC Wednesday and for our Round 15 letter "B", "B" is for BEE! Follow our whole S.T.E.A.M. ABC Wednesday series,  here.

* read the Wiki entry, here.

A is for Aquarium

The above photo was taken at the SciQuarium at the Greensboro Science Center. In the last few years, the science center has been undergoing an amazing transformation. The aquarium, only one part of the center's  multi-phased expansion,  is the only inland aquarium in North Carolina. The facility is a 22,000 square-foot LEED designed complex. It has been open for about a year now and has proven popular with the community.* Children delight at being so close to fish, stingray, and sharks.

Today is ABC Wednesday and they are now starting Round 15. For this round, GDP is focusing on science. Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (S.T.E.M.) programs are trending in America's schools. Some STEM programs have evolved to incorporate the arts and are known as STEAM programs. STEAM programs acknowledge that science has an artistic component. For example, in the above aquarium, water pH matters, species compatibility matters; however, design and aesthetic matter, too. When you wind through the SciQuarium and stand face-to-face with the underwater world, you realize that STEM without art would lack steam. So, for Round 15 of ABC Wednesday, our theme is STEAM and A is for Aquarium.

*references and more, here.