"I Am A STEM'ist, And You?"  - Helena G. Niksen

Chemisty of Emotions https://www.instagram.com/p/B1nNidBBvjQ/?igshid=1sw68ide1m4we

View launch WEBCAST: Countdown to First Virginia Coast Launch of LADEE to the Moon Webcast: http://bit.ly/1dDZEpv NASA is making final preparations to launch a Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) at 11:27 p.m. EDT Friday, Sept. 6, from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island, Va. Follow LADEE's latest news at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility: http://1.usa.gov/1dDZQVG

GROOVY ALERT: Spring & Summer Constellations by Joy Laforme of Mahwah, NJ, US

Born this day, John Woodward February 24, 1665 in Derbyshire, United Kingdom. At the age of 16, John Woodward became an apprentice to a linen draper in London, and then later he learned about medicine from Dr. Peter Barwick, who was a doctor for King Charles II. While studying medicine, Woodward found a fascination with fossils that eventually led him to his work with plants. In 1699, Woodward published his hydroponics experiments with spearmint. He tested different types of soil mixed with the water, and he learned plants with a less-pure water source grew better than plants grown in purely distilled water.  Woodward concluded that certain substances with minerals in the water encouraged plant growth. Fellow STEMists who want to become botanists can be on their way to doing research and investigations through the engineering design process found in our monthly-themed Groovy Lab in a Box.  Check out our groovy hydroponics box "Water Works" for more groovy fun for future #botanists! #STEMists do the "E" in #STEM Read more about #hydroponics #OnTheBlog - Evolution of Hydroponics. http://www.groovylabinabox.com/the-evolution-of-hydroponics/ #JohnWoodward #botany #bornthisday

Scientists in Switzerland use sound waves to levitate, manipulate matter. http://bit.ly/15z86Ro As anyone with a subwoofer and a teenager knows, sound waves exert pressure. When those waves are bounced between carefully aligned surfaces, they can create what is known as a standing wave, in which the total pressure from the original wave and its reflection cancel each other out. Objects placed at spots along the wave with the lowest amplitude, known as node points, tend to stay put. Being able to manipulated matter without touching it promises a wealth of applications, from material sciences to biology. For instance nucleic acids can be introduced into cells – a process known as DNA transfection – without fear of contamination."You can basically play with cells in a droplet," says Foresti While commuting via acoustically levitated skateboards may be far off in the future, Foresti says that he hopes that other researchers will soon find novel uses for his method. Meet our heros: http://bit.ly/15z9inT Video: Acoustophoretic Waltz Sodium and water dance a Waltz. http://bit.ly/15z86Ro Courtesy: Dr. Daniele Foresti http://bit.ly/15z96VB

Our Boxes Are Much More Than Science Supplies What problems have you solved today? Every day we are challenged with solving problems, and as adults, we don’t think about the process that goes into finding a solution because we have years of practice. We learned at an early age to be problem solvers. Groovy Lab in a Box wants to help children be problem solvers too. We foster creative innovation of children, beginning in their early informative years, by enticing their innate curiosity and determination through the engineering design process. What is the Engineering Design Process? @NASA’s example of the Engineering Design Process “involves a series of steps that lead to the development of a new product or system.” In fact, all engineering design processes start with the identification of a problem, or asking of a question to a solution or conclusion. Thinking Outside of the Box Our lessons don’t stop with the box. All #STEMists continue learning through access to “Beyond…in a Box,” a unique web portal containing videos, interactive activities, #STEM library and much, much more which work in tandem with the box projects. Groovy Lab in a Box challenges children to create their own designs by using the #engineering design process and to think outside the box. This is how they learn to be successful creative problem solvers. We are excited to play a part in STEMists’ creativity and learning. Start your subscription today, or check out our Single Box Order options, to get Groovy Lab in a Box for your #STEMist! #NationOfMakers #STEMforKids #STEMEducation #STEMEd #ProjectBasedLearning #EWeek2016 #PBL #EngineeringIsFun #BeAnEngineer #EngineersWeek #engineeringeducation #STEMtastic #unschooling #ElemEd #EdChat #EngineeringWeek2016 #homeschoolscience #instascience #STEMChallenge #MakerEd #MakerSpace #EngineeringDesignProcess #homeschool #Homeschooling #futureengineer #futurescientist

Here Are The Front Runners To Win A Science Nobel Prize This Year Thompson Reuters and Web of Science have announced their predictions for this year's nobel prize winners in chemistry, physics, and physiology and medicine. http://read.bi/19eRYtP

What is STEM, exactly? If you have followed Groovy Lab in a Box for a while, you may have noticed that we reference “STEM” a lot. However, you may be wondering: “What is STEM, exactly?” Let’s take a look at what STEM is and why it is so important to the United States. STEM is an acronym for “#Science, #Technology, #Engineering and #Mathematics.” It’s an acronym to describe a type of curriculum in school – from kindergarten through college. The idea behind STEM is to make the United States more competitive in technology development by bringing up generations of students who can excel in high-tech jobs (we call this generation, #STEMists.) Right now, only 16% of children graduating from American high schools are proficient in math and interested in a STEM career. However, jobs such as systems software developers, medical scientists and biomedical engineers will have the most career opportunities by 2020. Emphasizing STEM is critical in our schools, and it has not gone unnoticed by our federal government. In May 2013, the National Science and Technology Council issued a five-year strategic plan to respond to the lack of STEM education in our country’s schools. Other organizations, such as the STEM Education Coalition, are working hard to tell policymakers about STEM and how preparing our students is critical to the future of the U.S. We are doing our part, too. Each month, our subscription service focuses on delivering STEM education to your doorstep and computer. At Groovy Lab in a Box, we believe that children are natural STEMists with an innate sense of curiosity and inquiry that can flourish under the right conditions. We also believe that learning can be fun. We created Groovy Lab in a Box to encourage children to channel their natural STEMists. Whether they are building rockets or creating an electrical circuit, children are enjoying the learning process, and applying analytical skills that will transfer to the classroom, and later, their careers. Want to bring STEM learning right to your door step? Check out our monthly subscription programs! Your #STEMist will love our monthly themed STEM investigations & engineering design challenge. #homeschool #NGSS

"It's Electric!" is now available as a groovy SINGLE BOX! Groove on over to our website, click SINGLE BOXES to do the "E" in STEM! Here is one of the many investigation activities in "It's Electric!" - made with paper circuits and groovy LED lights. Investigate electricity while constructing a groovy door alarm. Explore switches, the origin & structure of the atom. Acquire various science and engineering practices aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards and much, much more. Groovy Lab in a Box is hands-on STEM, project based learning made FUN! #STEMists do the "E" in #STEM! Engineering Design Challenge in every groovy box! Engineering Design Challenge: You are a groovy electrical engineer who has been contracted by the latest groovy dance group.  Using only the materials from your Groovy Lab in a Box, can you design and build a groovy dance pad with specific criteria and constraints? #NationOfMakers #STEMforKids #STEMEducation #STEMEd #ProjectBasedLearning #PBLChat #PBL #STEMtastic #unschooling #ElemEd #EdChat #homeschoolscience #instascience #STEMChallenge #NGSS #MakerEd #EngineeringDesignProcess #STEMist #GroovyLabInABox #GroovyLab #STEMChat #Maker #FutureEngineer #Parenting #MakerSpace #FutureScientist