Teens learn science at informatics camp

The School of Informatics is playing host to 27 high school students at the annual Informatics Summer Camp this week. The diverse group of students have come from places as far as Hawaii and as close as Bloomington. Since Monday, students have been learning potential applications of the emerging field, as well as developing creative problem solving skills. \n2006 is the third year of the camp, which has been doubling in size since it began. Although there are other summer camps like it, this one is unique because it takes into account much of the variety characteristic of the field.\n"Our goal is to show them as many things as possible over five days," said Dennis Groth, assistant professor of informatics and director of the camp. "(The) kids better understand information technology and see if they fit into it." \nGroth said the camp aims to provide an enriching college experience for pre-collegiate students. He added by familiarizing students with the field of informatics they might discover an interest early on. Even if they don't find a niche in the field, the camp will still be educational. \n"Students don't all necessarily know what informatics is," Groth said. "The field is still fairly new, but the students are interested in computers in a way you can't get away from information technology." \nGroth said pervasive computing, a subfield of informatics interested in how sensors and other devices can be embedded in our environment for human interaction, was touched upon this week during the camp.\nStudents conceptualized their own range of potential uses for this field. Their ideas included shoes equipped with sensors that react to movement and impact to sensors for women to tell them how much money their date is carrying in their wallet. \nMehmet "Memo" Dalkilic, an assistant informatics professor, worked with the students Wednesday. Before getting started on a hands-on activity Dalkilic lightened the mood with a blend of comedy and knowledge.\n"Every cell in your body is like a book that tells your hair color, whether you're shy or if you'll like science or like sports," Dalkilic said. "Its going to say if you like Kanye West or Ashlee Simpson -- that's bad DNA." \nHe started the day with a chemistry experiment dealing with energy, or "craziness" as Dalkilic continually called it. \n"One way to measure energy is to see how much things wobble, shake or run around," Dalkilic said. \nTo illustrate this principal of energy, Dalkilic planned an experiment incorporating freezing to create ice cream. \nStudents, excited by the prospects of invention, creativity and ice cream, listened to the directions and carried them out behind the informatics building.\nUsing one small plastic bag of milk, cream, sugar and vanilla and another larger bag with rocks, salt and ice, camp attendees tossed and shook the bigger bag -- which held the smaller bag -- back and forth manipulating the force of energy or freezing to create ice cream. \n"To make ice cream you change ice to take more energy by adding salt," Dalkilic said. "Salt changes how much energy is required so there is more energy." \nThroughout the experiment Dalkilic encouraged the students to get out of their comfort zone by suggesting they pair up with someone not from their own school and that they label their group with a name like "ghost recon" or "danger zone."\n"I enjoy teaching," Dalkilic said. "I want to encourage people to go to school. It's about more than getting a job; it can change your whole outlook on life."\nMany of the high school students found the experience to be rewarding as well as exciting. \n"He wants to lure us toward science as a career," said Tony Gao, a 15-year-old who attends Bloomington South. "So he is showing us the fun side"