Understanding Science and Technology Through K-8 Education Rollie Otto Center for Science and Engineering Education, Berkeley Lab June 28, 2007

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of California, U.S Department of Energy Mission: Solve the most pressing and profound scientific problems facing humankind, operate national user facilities, prepare the next generation of scientists and engineers.

June 28, 2007 Mission Oriented Science and Technology at Berkeley Lab Sustainable Energy Resources Sustainable Energy Resources Global Climate Change and Environmental Impacts of Energy Generation Global Climate Change and Environmental Impacts of Energy Generation Human Health and Ecology Human Health and Ecology

June 28, 2007 Frontier Science Generating New Knowledge History, Structure and Fate of the Universe History, Structure and Fate of the Universe Fundamental Particle and Interactions Fundamental Particle and Interactions Genomes, Proteins, Cell Processes Genomes, Proteins, Cell Processes Nano-scale Science Nano-scale Science

June 28, 2007 Scientific Tools: Berkeley Lab’s Major Scientific Facilities Serving Government, Universities, and Industry Advanced Light Source Molecular Foundry National Center for Electron Microscopy National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center 88-Inch Cyclotron Joint Genome Institute Energy Sciences Network (ESnet)

June 28, 2007 Three Strands for Science Research and Education Our Place in the Universe Our Place in the Universe Our Place Among the Living Our Place Among the Living Sustainable Energy and Environmental Resources Sustainable Energy and Environmental Resources

June 28, 2007 Our Place in the Universe

June 28, 2007 From the Edge of the Universe

June 28, 2007 Our Material Place in the Universe

June 28, 2007 Our Energy Place in the Universe E=MC 2 Energy and Matter are two forms of the same thing

June 28, 2007 Our Place Among the Living trillion cells in the human body trillion cells in the human body 46 chromosomes in each cell contain genes 46 chromosomes in each cell contain genes DNA polymers contains the four “letter” code of life (ATCG) DNA polymers contains the four “letter” code of life (ATCG) 3.1 billion chemical base pairs on chromosomes 3.1 billion chemical base pairs on chromosomes 28,000 to 35,000 genes 28,000 to 35,000 genes 100,000 proteins 100,000 proteins

June 28, 2007 Genes are Encoded in DNA

June 28, 2007 Lessons from the Human Genome Project All humans – 99.9% same DNA All humans – 99.9% same DNA DNA similarities with other organisms DNA similarities with other organisms Gene Squences that Code for Protein Random DNA Seqments between genes Chimpanzee100%98% Dog99%52% Mouse99%40% Chicken75%4% Fruit Fly 60% Close to 0% Roundworm35%

June 28, 2007 Synthetic Biology Medicines from Microbes Medicines from Microbes Renewable resource into energy Renewable resource into energy Bioremediation Bioremediation

June 28, 2007 Sustainable Energy and Environmental Resources 6 Billion People – Three in four without electricity 6 Billion People – Three in four without electricity Rural electrification most important technology of 20 th Century (National Academies Science and Engineering) Rural electrification most important technology of 20 th Century (National Academies Science and Engineering) Energy Resources have environmental impacts. Energy Resources have environmental impacts. –Fossil Fuels – Climate Change and Pollution –Nuclear Energy – Radioactive Waste and Plutonium

June 28, 2007 Composite of World at Night

June 28, 2007 Climate Change

June 28, 2007

How it Began

June 28, 2007 Temperature over the last 420,000 years Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change We are here CO 2

June 28, 2007 All Light is a Form of Energy

June 28, 2007

What’s the Connection? Grades 3-8 Burning Fossil Fuels For Energy and Light Produces Carbon Dioxide and Water. Fossil Fuels are molecules of hydro carbons. C-H (so is most food) Fossil Fuels are molecules of hydro carbons. C-H (so is most food) Burning is a chemical reaction between hydrocarbons and oxygen molecules Burning is a chemical reaction between hydrocarbons and oxygen molecules Carbon dioxide is colorless - orderless gas that traps heat radiation Carbon dioxide is colorless - orderless gas that traps heat radiation Energy from the sun is stored in plants and animals and released when burned (and metabolized) Energy from the sun is stored in plants and animals and released when burned (and metabolized) There renewable and non renewable sources of hydrocarbons (oil verse corn) There renewable and non renewable sources of hydrocarbons (oil verse corn)

June 28, 2007

Cellulose Plants Engineered photosynthetic microbes and plants Artificial Photosynthesis Electricity PV Electrochemistry Helios Research Model Methanol Ethanol Hydrogen Hydrocarbons Cellulose-degrading microbes

June 28, 2007 Why Science? Understanding the natural world, it’s structure and rules Understanding the natural world, it’s structure and rules Predicting using cause and effect relationships Predicting using cause and effect relationships Engineering materials and process in the natural world for improvement of the human condition Engineering materials and process in the natural world for improvement of the human condition

June 28, 2007 Which Science? Do the concept principles and theories called for in the California science standards for grade 4-8 support the three strands? Do the concept principles and theories called for in the California science standards for grade 4-8 support the three strands? –Our Place in the Universe –Our Place Among the Living –Sustainable Energy and Environmental Resources Do the investigation and experimentation skills and knowledge support these strands? Do the investigation and experimentation skills and knowledge support these strands?

June 28, 2007 The End of Another Day at Berkeley Lab