Eben Bayer and Gavin McIntyre were fascinated by mushrooms growing on wood chips, and observing how the fungal mycelium strongly bonded the wood chips together. This inspired them to think of new ways of using mycelium as a resin. They formulated a new process for binding together insulating particles, creating some remarkable materials that could replace Styrofoam™. Rather than just decreasing the environmental impact of conventional polystyrene foams, this invention created a whole new paradigm where composite materials are literally grown, harnessing the incredible efficiency of nature. Their company has won numerous awards and has grown to 35 full-time employees. 

TED talk:

What/Where: The PTO of Edward Smith (located within walking distance of ESF, on the corner of Lancaster Ave and Broad Street) is planning on a Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Evening open to Edward Smith Families and Staff.
When: Thursday, April 26th, 2012 from 5:45 until 8:00 p.m.
Who: ESF Graduate Students are encouraged to volunteer! To do so, contact Kay Scott.

Listed below is the schedule for our STEM evening:      
5:00 p.m. – 5:45 p.m. Set-up for Engineering Open Activities, Centers, Show and Meal
5:45 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.  Meal for families, staff and volunteers of STEM evening.
5:45 p.m. - 6:30p.m.   Variety of “Open STEM Activities” & Center Sign-Up
6:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.   STEM Science Show by Dr. Gary Scott, SUNY-ESF
7:00 p.m. – 7:20 p.m.   Center Activity (see below Center Activities)
7:20 p.m. – 7:40 p.m.   Center Activity (see below Center Activities)
7:40 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.   Center Activity (see below Center Activities) 
8:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.    Clean-up 

We are looking for ESF Student Volunteers to help with the center activites and we could also use a few volunteers to help with the open activities.  
Center Activities: ·        
Trebuchet Demonstration and Marshmallow Catapult Build, children have the opportunity to learn about the mechanics of the trebuchet and catapult and then build their own marshmallow catapult and practice.   Leader:  Lillian Jeng ·        
Make your own ice-cream:   Children will learn about changes in matter and solutions and have the opportunity to make their own serving of ice-cream. Mrs. Kwiek and Edward Smith Science Students (will need additional leader) ·        
Computer Programming:   Leader:  Michael Wheeler, see below for sample of the programming language or  http://scratch.mit.edu ·        
Laser Engraving:   With help from the Nottingham HS Students and Mr. McGinty ·        
Robotics:  Leader:  John Ashby ·        
DNA of Strawberries:  Leader:  Mary Terrinoni ·        
Squishy Circuits:   Leader to be determined ·        
Plant and Organic Matter Identification:   Leaders:  Valerie and Stephan   

“Open STEM Activities” will include:  Duplo Block Building, KNex, Lincoln Logs, Wood Blocks, Toilet Paper Tube and Paper Cup Towers, Calculator Riddles, Small Paper Box Building, X-ray Viewing, Color Spinners, Make a Flip Book, Pixel Magnification, plus other ideas.   We would not be able to pay the volunteers but we could at least provide dinner which will be pasta, pizza, salad and dessert.

Many hearty congratulations to the winner of our contest, Jenn Yantachka! We are in the process of working with the Office of Communications on the web feature on her research, and will post a link to that as soon as it is available. In the meantime, you can see her brief bio here (at the bottom of the page). Congratulations also to Anna Stewart and Roman Yavich, our runners up. To everyone who made it, the talent within the graduate student body was on full display.

Many thanks as well to our sponsors: the Office of Instruction and Graduate Studies, the Office of Communications, and the Department of Environmental Resources Engineering.

Davíd Carrasco

Neil L. Rudenstine Professor of the Study of Latin America, Harvard Divinity School 

and Harvard FAS Department of Anthropology  will give a lecture  "An Indigenous American Pictorial Epic: Storytelling from the 16th Century  Mexican Codex-Mapa de Cuauhtinchan (Place of the Eagle's Nest)"  On Friday, April 6, 2012 at 7:00 in Hendricks Chapel. With performance by The Brazilian Ensemble at 6:30.  Co-Sponsored by the Undergraduate Anthropology Club, the Religion Graduate Organization (funded by the GSO),  and the Native American Studies Program.