Today, as I am showing my kids science, I realize that much of what I learned as a kid I used as an engineer. The featured image above is Reddy Kilowatt, a mascot used by several power companies until the 1980's, whose goal was to help the public 'embrace the concept of electricity'. My kids and I ran across him at the Edison Museum in Beaumont, TX and needless to say he got me all ... Read More about What I learned as a Kid I used as an Engineer: Electrical Engineering
What I learned as a Kid I used as an Engineer: Petroleum Engineering
As part of the “Engineering My Life“ series, I am introducing the different types of engineering through simple science experiments. My hope is that one day future engineering students will think back and realize that what they learned as a kid they will use as an engineer. I had the unique opportunity to work and live on an oil platform called Mad Dog. The platform floats in 7,000 feet of ... Read More about What I learned as a Kid I used as an Engineer: Petroleum Engineering
Floating Orange Science
Soap and Germ Science
Here is a simple, powerful, and classic experiment to show your kids why we wash our hands with soap especially now that we are trying to avoid contracting the coronavirus. What you need: A bowl of water, dish soap, oil, and pepper How you do it: Explain that our hands have small amounts of oil on them and this oil is what holds the dirt and germs to our hands throughout the ... Read More about Soap and Germ Science
The Forgotten Onion
Have you ever reached into your pantry for an onion only to discover that it has been in there so long it sprouted? (Please tell me I'm not the only one this has happened to...😬) Perplexed, I went to chunk it in the trash, but decided first to take a picture of the "forgotten onion" and post it to Instagram stories. After I took the picture I decided it was too beautiful not to observe with the ... Read More about The Forgotten Onion
The Unexplainable Science of Light
Light. Something so simple, something we interact with everyday of our lives, has properties so complex that it's beyond explanation. This experiment reminded me that sometimes even science can't give us all the answers...at least not yet. What you need: Polarizing film (An A4 sheet size on Amazon here but you could attempt this with three polarized glasses lenses), cardboard, tape, play ... Read More about The Unexplainable Science of Light
