Institute News

Taking Part in The Conversation: What’s the Deal with Yawning?

You’ve probably heard that yawning is contagious; seeing someone doing it, or even reading about it, can trigger something in your brain that makes you need to yawn. But why do humans yawn? How does yawning look in other species? Those are exactly the questions that Christine Calder, an Assistant Professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Mississippi State University, grapples with in her latest article on The Conversation.

Taking Part in The Conversation: Drone Software as a Pilot?

“Would you get on a plane that didn’t have a human pilot in the cockpit?” asks Jeremy Straub, an assistant professor of computer science at North Dakota State University, in his most recent article published on The Conversation. It might seem scary to put so much trust in artificial intelligence, but the truth is that there are many benefits to having a non-human in control. Here are a few of the advantages that Straub points out:

CREATE at the MSU Science Festival in East Lansing

CREATE for STEM had a great time at the MSU Science Festival Expo in East Lansing on April 7. CREATE had two presentations in East Lansing. During the first, presented by Sam Severance and Sara Severance, kids investigated the transfer of energy. The second, presented by Lora Kaldaras, explored why certain objects stick together when others don’t.

Pilot testing of new unit begins with 7th Graders at Carman-Ainsworth Middle School

How can looking for thrills make me miserable? This is the question 145 7th-graders at Carman-Ainsworth Middle School are investigating in science class. Pilot testing began April 12th and curriculum design continues in partnership with science teacher, Adam Cassel. This second unit dives deeper into gene-environment interactions exploring genetics, mutation, natural selection and evolution. Students investigate the brain’s reward system and why this system can lead to addictive behavior.

Health in Our Hands at the MSU Science Festival in Detroit

CREATE for STEM Institute staff and volunteers presented at the Michigan State University Science Festival on Sunday April 15th to share information about diabetes with families in Detroit. Children used the online simulation from the Health in Our Hands middle school curriculum to plan and carry out an investigation about diabetes. The game uses simulated sand rats that can contract diabetes when fed sugary lab food.

CREATE for STEM Institute at MSU