REINVENTED ALLIE KATZ On Blending Art & Science ISSUE 13 FALL 2022
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To Infinity & Beyond, Caeley Looney Dear Readers, It’s been a tough couple of months for women Without getting too political here, I do want to start this letter off by simply reminding each of you that it’s okay to not be okay Everyone is struggling, I promise you that With everything going on in the world, so many of us have felt forced into pretending that things aren’t on fire for the sake of maintaining some form of normalcy in our lives The truth is, what’s going on in the world is not normal, and putting on a happy face just to survive your day to day life is not normal So here’s your reminder to always put yourself first, don’t be afraid to feel what you ’ re truly feeling, and ask for help if you need it
Letter From the Editor | 3 Letter Editorfrom the Now, let’s dig into this brand new issue of Reinvented Magazine. This issue focuses on making and the trades, which I personally think are two fields within the realm of STEM that don’t get acknowledged as much as they deserve. We started this issue off by providing you with an introduction to careers in the trades, in hopes to not only shine some light on what they truly look like but also to help shatter some negative stereotypes surrounding those roles. In our Everyday Changemaker series, you’ll find a couple interviews with really amazing tradeswomen which provide a glimpse into what their day to day jobs look like.
Beyond the trades, however, we also tried to get you hands on during this back to school season! With some help from one of our favorite makers, Allie Katz, this issue will teach you everything you need to know to get started with LEDs We included important tips and tricks in addition to two DIY tutorials that take you step by step through different LED projects involving circuitry, soldering, some basic fiber optics, and more! Lastly, before I let you dive into this quarter’s content, I want to give each and every one of you a huge thank you for continuing to support Reinvented. As many of you saw, we posted to our social media pages not too long ago telling the world that like many other nonprofits right now, we are struggling. Nonprofit organizations are not immune to the inflation and financial issues our country is currently facing, and each month we are seeing the costs of printing, shipping, travel, and more increase, creating barriers for us as we try to empower girls in STEM. If you can, please consider donating to Reinvented to help us continue our mission and make a difference. And, if you can’t donate financially, consider donating your time through writing guest blog posts, helping at one of our upcoming events, or joining our team of volunteers! With your help, our organization is unstoppable!
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ble of TENTS 11 Everyday Changemakers 21Summer Of Science 28Makers You Should Follow 39 Intro To LEDs 43 The Science Behind Renewable Energy 48 Composting 101 53 DIY: LEDs 18 Nia Asemota 31 Allie Katz 07 Intro To The Trades
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BY: CAELEY LOONEY THE TRADES I N T R O T O
There are 165 million people working in the trades currently. However, women only make up 250,000 of them. In 2018, it was reported that fewer than 3.4% of construction trades workers were women working with tools. Despite all of the efforts seen across the globe to get more women into STEM fields, the trades space is often left out of the picture But why? These jobs have been stigmatized and are often perceived as somehow lesser than traditional STEM careers However, the gap between the need for skilled trade workers and the supply has been growing steadily despite the fact that a career in the trades can offer students less debt, substantial pay, and job stability. Let’s talk money. In construction alone, the average starting wage for skilled tradeswomen is $20 an hour plus benefits. While the other STEM industries see a wage gap, many trades jobs have women and men making the same amount because union contracts dictate that women and men make the same salary. These are just the numbers after you get licensed Students who pursue the trades start saving and building up financial stability for their futures from the beginning Skilled tradespeople are able to enter the workforce on average at least two years earlier than typical college graduates, and they do so without student loan debt. A skilled trade is any occupation that requires a particular skill set, knowledge, or ability When considering a career in the trades, start by asking yourself questions including: what are my career goals? What is my timeline to entering the workforce? Is a skilled trade suitable to my personality type?
Remember that choosing a career and not going to your typical four year college doesn’t mean you ’ re skipping out on an education. Learning and mastering a skill is an essential part of entering the trades, and there are several options available to getting the required training to enter the trades.
For example, career technical education (CTE) programs are typically offered in high school and serve as an early option for students considering a skilled trade Trades schools are another option After completing high school or obtaining your GED, you can attend a technical college for hands on training for your skilled job The trade school curriculum will focus on training pertaining to a specific job, just like a four year college would, and it requires that students take classes in their chosen field of study These technical training programs typically take several months to a year to complete, but the cost is significantly less than a two or four year college degree.
How to Get Started in the Trades
8 |
Intro to the Trades
Intro to Trades | 9
There are five components to a standard apprenticeship program: business involvement, structured on the job training, related instruction, rewards for skill gains, and nationally recognized credentials
Business Involvement: Structured On-the-Job Training: Related Instruction: Rewards for Skill Gains: Nationally Recognized Credentials: Employers play an active role in building the program and remain involved every step of the way. Employers are expected to work together with external entities, including apprenticeship councils and industry associations, to share administrative tasks involved in maintaining their apprenticeship program. Apprentices receive hands on training from an experienced mentor at the job site The training focuses on the skills and knowledge an apprentice must learn to be fully proficient on the job and is based on national industry standards Education partners collaborate with businesses to develop the curriculum, and related supplemental instruction may be provided by community colleges or technical schools during the apprenticeship. Apprentices receive pay when they begin training and then receive pay increases as they reach benchmarks for skill attainment. When you graduate from an apprenticeship program you receive a nationally recognized credential that signifies to any future employers that you ’ re fully qualified for the job
Apprenticeships are another way to launch your career in a skilled trade. They are programs run by businesses that effectively pay employees to prepare for their high skilled jobs. Apprenticeship programs keep pace with advancing technologies and innovations through the complete involvement of the employers in the educational process. While these programs are traditionally used in industries such as construction and manufacturing, it is now becoming increasingly popular in other industries such as healthcare, IT, and energy.
Apprenticeship Programs
Welders fabricate, install, and service heating, venting, and AC systems; blowpipe and industrial systems; metal roofing; coping and flashing; and stainless steel work for restaurants, kitchens, and hospitals They prepare shop and field drawings manually and with computer programs To learn more about other careers in the trades, check out https://tradeswomen.org/. are involved in the installation, remodeling, or maintenance of systems that carry water, steam, air, and other liquids necessary for sanitation, industrial production, heating and cooling, and more. Workers in this trade measure, cut, and bend pipes as well as weld, braze, caulk, solder, glue, or thread joints at both residential and commercial work sites. Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Sprinklerfitters
Types of Trades Jobs have access to many industries. From Boeing and Lockheed Martin to Tesla and FFRDCs, you can find automotive machinists working anywhere. This job involves working with one of the most important parts of any automotive vehicle: the engine. They can be involved in performing maintenance on the engine, repairing and installing parts, or even improving a vehicle’s overall performance.
Carpenters
10 | Intro to Trades
Electricians can work across a variety of industries including construction, gas, utilities, telecommunications, railroads, and more. Electricians work in all phases of the electrical construction and service industry and their worksites range from houses to industrial plants. Wire workers install and maintain conduits, switches, and converters in addition to wire lighting or working in fiber optics provide the crucial foundation for concrete, exteriors, roofs, infrastructure, and scaffolding while also crafting the fine trim and finish work They are the ones who are responsible for bringing the blueprints on a new house or building to life Carpenters are skilled in laying out, measuring, cutting, and joining materials together.
Automotive Machinists
There are so many options available in the skilled trades that you ’ re sure to find one that fits you To give you a head start, here is more information about some of the careers you might consider.
12 | Peta Cox
By: Meghana Krishna
As a little girl, Peta Cox never dreamed about working as a surveyor. Now, she can’t imagine herself in any other field. Surveyors play a critical role in maintaining the safety and efficacy of various infrastructures. They are responsible for collecting and reporting data on specific regions of land, including metrics for both natural and man made boundaries and structures. Using techniques to precisely measure the shape and contour of the Earth's surface, surveyors provide data that mapmakers, engineers, and architects can use to accurately produce site plans for a variety of purposes, including construction, infrastructure, mining, redevelopment, cartography, and offshore exploration
urvey Says:
Survey
Surveyors have the opportunity to work with some of the most advanced technologies available, including drones, Lidar, and laser scanners
Consider a Career in Surveying SSays: Check out Peta's podcast here!
In addition, rapid developments in artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and cloud computing are transforming the way surveyors map and interact with the world “We are the first ones on the ground before a project begins, and the last ones to leave after ensuring everything has been completed to the standards required,” notes Cox. “We have the best of both worlds; exploring and working outside, often on different sites every day, and working indoors on software to prepare reports and plans.”
She chose to focus on surveying, a two year, full time program “It was as simple as that,” says Cox “I fell into it It was one of the best things to happen in my life ”
Cox attributes her introduction to the surveying industry to good fortune. “I didn’t really know what surveying was when I was in grade school,” she recalls. “I left high school and got into university to train as a nurse. ” After completing a year of undergraduate nursing courses, Cox decided to take a gap year after becoming pregnant and leaving a toxic relationship Looking to financially support herself and her child, she applied to the School of Landscaping and Surveying at TAFE (Technical and Further Education), a vocational college
Cox encourages anyone interested in surveying to explore vocational programs in their area, and find an industry professional to shadow She emphasizes that opportunities within STEM are limitless Identifying role models and mentors within any field of interest and asking lots of questions is key
Though Cox initially struggled to find a job as a young, single mother, she eventually succeeded, spending over a decade working as a Technical Surveyor in the transportation infrastructure industry. Later, she shifted into academia, accepting a teaching position at TAFE. She climbed the ranks as an educator, eventually becoming the Head Teacher in the Surveying and Civil Construction department. "I've enjoyed the diversity of tasks," reflects Cox. "I've completed some wonderful projects, like working on main infrastructure roads, rural topographic surveys, city construction, river surveys, and cadastral boundary surveying."
With over twenty six years of experience in the surveying and education sectors, Cox now focuses on designing vocational courses that provide technical training for aspiring surveyors. As the National Training and Development Manager for the Australian Association of Consulting Surveyors National, Cox’s day consists of developing content relevant to surveying in today’s climate and liaising with industry to ensure she is incorporating the foundational knowledge of surveying “We are turning the education of surveying on its head by providing the first vocational, work based program, where we will be delivering the theory one day per week in addition to practical experience on the job under the guidance and mentorship of a supervising surveyor, ” Cox says In addition to her day job, Cox is the voice behind the Defining Boundaries podcast, a passion project she launched in September of 2020. The podcast was a natural outgrowth of her love for the surveying industry and her desire to share others’ stories. She is also the co host on the Geoholics Podcast. “I love to chat with surveyors and spatial/geospatial people about what they love about our industry and the challenges they’ve faced,” says Cox. “There are so many great stories out there, and I get to speak to people from all over the world and make some great friends in the process. Surveying, for most of us, is deep in our blood we love the variety, the challenges, the problem solving, and the technology.”
“Believe in yourself and you will go far!” advises Cox “If you step outside of your comfort zone, you will be uncomfortable, but only then will you learn and grow ” Peta Cox
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14 | Constanza Work and Workwear Queen:
Constanza Maass is an environmental technician and site assessor for an environmental consulting company in Toronto, Canada She is responsible for performing field tests, investigating sources of pollution, and checking for soil and groundwater contamination
Maass took some time to reflect and was able to identify what she really enjoyed: her environmental science classes She loved her outdoor labs and quite literally “getting her hands dirty ” It made her nostalgic of camping trips that she used to take with her family After mustering up the courage, she decided that she would not be pursuing the dentistry track
According to Maass, the most difficult part of the transition was admitting to herself that dentistry was not what she wanted to pursue. She was afraid of letting herself and her family down but she was elated to have her family’s support as she made this decision.
Talking with Environmental Technician Constanza Maass
By: Varija Mehta lifeisallaboutliving You havetoenjoytheprocess thatistheonlywaythat thestrugglesandpainswill beworthwhile
For as long as Maass could remember, she wanted to be a dentist She loved going in for check ups and knew that dentistry would be the way that she would make her mark on the world. But life had different plans. Fast forward to college, Maass was pursuing a bachelor’s in science degree at the University of Ottawa with a specialization in biology. She was taking general science courses so that she could meet the requirements for dental school. But a few months in, she felt that something was not right: her mental health was depleting and the spark was simply not there She felt that the program and profession were not the right fit for her personality When Maass talked to her peers, they would tell her, "it will all be alright when [you] become a doctor ” But she believes that “life is all about living You have to enjoy the process that is th the only way that the struggles and pains will be worthwhile ”
Some days, she performs a Phase II assessment: working with drillers to collect soil samples. Other days, her team installs wells to sample groundwater for potential contaminants. She also assists project managers and field coordinators with the scoping, planning, and assessing costs of various projects.
When asked how she landed this internship which provided her with valuable work experience, Maass said, “connections and asking questions.” She emphasized the importance of networking with people in fields that you are interested in purs
Constanza | 15
When Maass isn’t working, she’s either creating content for her Instagram (@technically.a.tech) or playing with her two cats; Dude and Mason. She uses her social media platform to show others what it’s like working as an environmental technician She often reviews women ’ s workwear on her page, which is something that she deeply cares about Too often, she finds that women in trade fields have to wear men ’ s clothes which above all, is a major safety concern
pursuing. Maass also noticed that too often, interns or co op students are assigned trivial tasks, like filing. During her job interviews, she made sure to ask questions about specific projects that she would be able to work on and that made all the difference. Today, Maass is working as an Environmental Technician and Site Assessor and she loves her work What does a normal day as an environmental technician look like? Each day is different! Maass assesses sites for her clients, who vary from individual people to local municipalities In her thorough assessments, she identifies causes of contamination and determines if the land is safe for another entity to buy, sell, or refinance
Maass began taking more classes related to environmental engineering. Once she found her niche, Maass began attending networking events and trying to develop connections with professionals in the field so that she could get started. She later graduated from the University of Ottawa with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Cum Laude honors. Right after college, Maass worked as an intern developing a wastewater emergency response plan “Wastewater is such an undervalued part of environmental science and society!” says Maass During her internship, she was able to compile and analyze energy consumption and cost data to assess performance and track effectiveness for the development of a wastewater energy strategy She loved the concept of problem solving and creating workable solutions on the job
Wastewater is such an undervalued part of environmental science and society!
Maass knows that the path that has led her to becoming an environmental technician is anything but orthodox, but she couldn’t be happier with what she does.
Q&A with Knutson’sStartinSTEM: “I was gradually pulled into the STEM field,” remarks Knutson Her first major exposure to STEM was through her high school robotics team. There, she learned to 3D print and use computer aided design software. For Knutson, it was “ eye opening to see kids explain how calculus is used in robotics” and how robotics and engineering could be applied in the real world. For her analog astronaut mission in Poland, she 3D printed a custom designed tablet holder, based off of a GoPro chest mount, herself. Between judging other students and competing, robotics allowed Knutson to gain a wider view of STEM fields and understand how different career paths intersect While Knutson always had an inkling of desire for a career in space, she wasn’t sure where or how to start Like many other young people, she turned to social media Knutson created an Instagram account dedicated to her space dreams (@astroamandaofficial) and followed as many STEM influencers as she could. By connecting with like minded individuals online, Knutson learned of the Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation (HI SEAS) facility, a research station located 8,200 feet above sea level on the Mauna Loa volcano.
16 | Amanda
Amanda Knutson: Analog from Hawai'i to Poland
ForAmandaKnutson, “outoftheworld”experiencesarenormal. FromPolandtoHawaii,Knutsonembarksontripsthatsimulate lunarormartianmissions—allwhilestillstayingonEarth.Asananalog astronaut,shetakespartingroundbreakingmissionsthatprepareherfortheultimatetest ofcompletingafuturespacemission. Knutson
While she didn’t know if she was actually qualified for any missions, Knutson took a leap of faith and reached out to the HI SEAS coordinators Her decision proved to be a pivotal moment in her career, as she was accepted for the Sensoria M2 mission to begin her analog astronaut training.
AisforAstronaut: As an analog astronaut, Knutson, along with her crew of five others, participated in a two week long space simulation mission. The first step to preparing for any analog mission is to understand the habitat. For example, Knutson’s Sensoria M2 mission occurred in Hawaii, while her LunAres, or Sensoria M5, mission was set in Poland. The natural lava tubes present on Hawaii’s mountains allowed thto By: Madeline Day
allowed crew members on th navigate on terrain most simil lunar habitats. Lava tubes, which and the moon, provide cover f flares. As a result, the realism “insane,” according to Knutson the other hand, took place insid hanger, which did not provide simulation but freed the cre impediments The second step to approaching crew and understand the logistic Most crews arrive a few days p with HI SEAS to understand ever facilitate bonding among mem mission commander and an ex charge of leadership, as well as or creative research officer. D Knutson was appointed as the e where her robotics experience w to day basis, she “monitored ele and plumbing,” ensuring the st of what connects engineering w the element of surprise, as ther Knutson had to come up with sol Beyond her duties as the engineering officer, Knutson also experienced extravehicular activities (EVAs) and carried out a personal project of interest during the mission: developing an aquaponics system suited to the habitat. While the system did not function as imagined, Knutson embraced the experience, as it taught her that “not everything will go as planned.”
She also formed lifelong frien her 2020 HI SEAS mission, sh all female Sensoria mission, Aboard was an artist, a singe Knutson’s favorite moments f crewmember, who was a singe for the rest of the crew. In th not only celebrated a birthda 2020 presidential election. W “different stories and differ allowed them to come tog another. JustDoIt: Knutson’s experience with an she strongly believes in uplifti pushing,” advises Knutson understands that “times ma young people to “test boundar As an aspiring analog astrona was qualified to join the HI S to recruiters regardless That one decision led to multiple missions and allowed her to be one step closer to her own dream of becoming an astronaut and one day carrying out missions in space. “You never know if something is negotiable,” says Knutston, and the only way to find out is to try. Smiling, Knutson reflects on her journey and concludes that “If I can do it, anyone else can as well.”
Her first STEM experience wasn’t until 9th grade when her mom encouraged her to join the FIRST Robotics team at school. The Yonkers Mechadogs team had a core team of 36, with 10 girls, including Asemota, driving their success. This team spent many hours building and coding their robots in the loading dock area of the school The Mechadogs competed in four competitions, including two national competitions, and earned NASA’s FIRST Championship Award for engineering Asemota credits the girls on her team for letting nothing hold the robotics team back from success
By: Erin Twamley: A STEMinist, educator, and author of multicultural children’s books featuring women in STEM. https://www.erintwamley.com
Her robotics team was eventually co led by her AP calculus teacher, Mrs. Pannell, a black woman who helped Asemota’s career path and personal journey. Asemota was fascinated by the ways in which their robots raced through the obstacle courses after the robot’s code was run Her robotics team cultivated her love of science, technology,
A ff
Color in ASTEM dvocate for Girls Uof sesHer Artistry Hto owNia Asemota A
Nia Asemota knows first hand how role models can change the world.
“From women with natural hair, headscarves, and braids to black women in space, experimenting in laboratories, or coding on a computer, the drawings will reflect young black girls around the world.”
Nia Asemota | 19 engineering, and math, or STEM. In fact, Asemota went on to pursue computer science and biomolecular science degree at New York University’s Tandon School of Engineering, where she recently graduated in May of 2022. Her STEM experiences as a high school student have her giving back and being a role model herself “I learned through my journey in STEM, while it is important to provide opportunities to explore STEM fields for girls and underrepresented communities, the power lies in the ability to be and see the example of a STEM role model who looks like them ” Asemota herself is an Afro Latina, coming from a Puerto Rican and Nigerian multicultural family Her identity has shaped her drive to be a role model herself, especially for girls that look like her As a college mentor, Asemota helped other young women pursuing STEM degrees on their journey. She also spent countless hours facilitating hands on workshops and labs for high schoolers across New York City. To reach even younger girls, like those in elementary school, Asemota works with Black Girls CODE, a not for profit organization that focuses on providing technology education for African American girls. Asemota loves being a technical instructor with this leading organization because she can be a role model for the girls as young as seven that she teaches how to code. This coding, robotics loving STEM role model also has artistry she wants to share She wants girls and young women to know there is art in STEM Asemota herself is passionate about drawing She combines her love of drawing, STEM, and the power of representation in creating diverse outreach materials to inspire kids In 2021, she created the Black Girls CODE the Future Coloring Book to inspire the next generation of girls in STEM with an old time favorite activity: coloring. Asemota developed a coloring book because she wants girls to see themselves reflected in the pages they color. “From women with natural hair, headscarves, and braids to black women in space, experimenting in laboratories, or coding on a computer, the drawings will reflect young black girls around the world.” The coloring book features 32 illustrations of black women in STEM that are ready to color and inspire. Asemota is working on expanding her STEM collection to include puzzles and posters; all with her own illustrations and featuring black leaders, trailblazers and women to know in STEM She will use her experience as a software engineer at NASA to get ready for her first job as a STEM professional as a Product Manager at Spotify She will be asking questions, exploring how technology and business collide, and using AI to optimize strategic financial solutions Although she has now started a new chapter as a STEM professional, she is committed to being a role model and sharing the stories of black women in STEM with girls.
Science Science OF
Instructions: Step 3: Add a few drops of food coloring. As the food coloring is water based, meaning water is the main ingredient, the drops will pass through the oil before dyeing the water at the bottom.
Steps: | By: Aysia Torres
22
mason jar or empty water bottle vegetable oil, cooking oil, coconut oil, or baby oil water liquid food coloring or water based paint Alka Seltzer tablet divided into fourths
DIY:MakeYourLampoLava wn
Materials: Step 1: Fill your chosen container ¾ of the way to the top with oil.
Step 2: Fill it the rest of the way with water, leaving about an inch of space at the top As a little girl, I used to hoard my arcade tickets, hoping that one day I’d finally collect enough to purchase one of the colorful lava lamps displayed on the high shelves behind the prize counter. I refused to consider another prize, even when my sister tried to pressure me into combining our winnings so we could get a shiny electric guitar I played round after round of skee ball and whack a mole until I could finally purchase the lamp It had a silver base and sparkling purple “lava ” I’d turn off all the lights in my room just so I could watch as the colored bubbles morphed, sank, and rose I had always wanted to take it apart to understand how and why the colorful liquid moved the way it did. The DIY experiment below works on two scientific principles: polarity and density. We’ll study how lava lamps work by making our own temporary lava lamp with household materials.
Lava Lamps Tutorial
T h e S c i e n c e B e h i n d t h e S t ep s: When Alka Seltzer combines with water, it produces carbon dioxide (CO2) bubbles, which stick to the water droplets. This H2O/CO2 combination is not as dense as the oil, so it rises to the top of the receptacle. Once at the top, the CO2 bubbles pop and escape into the air, which allows the water to sink back to the bottom.
Step 5: As the chemical reaction slows down, add another piece of the Alka Seltzer tablet This is just one example of how to make a lava lamp! Since warm water has a lower density than cool water, you can play around with different temperatures and observe how water temperature affects the chemical reaction Do the bubbles move slower? Faster? What happens if you use tonic water instead of regular water and an Alka Seltzer tablet? Does the reaction last longer? There’s a lot of fun to be had with this experiment!
The Science Behind the Steps:
Lava Lamps Tutorial | 23
Steps: Step: As water is denser than oil, it will sink to the bottom while oil floats, creating clear little blobs. Water molecules are polar, meaning the two hydrogen atoms are positively charged, while the oxygen atom is negatively charged. If a water molecule came into contact with another polar molecule with strong enough dipoles, the two would attract like magnets. Oil molecules, however, are non-polar, meaning they do not have a negative or positive charge. As a result, water and oil molecules are not attracted to one another and do not mix.
You can keep this fizzy reaction going for as long as you have Alka Seltzer tablets. For your safety, if you want to come back to your lava lamp the next day, make sure the chemical reaction has completely stopped before replacing the lid of your container. Because of the gas released during the reaction, covering your receptacle before the reaction is over could lead to a build up of pressure that can cause your container to rupture Step 4: Break the Alka Seltzer tablet into four pieces and drop one into your container Watch as the chemical reaction between Alka Seltzer and water makes your lava lamp erupt into a flurry of activity
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1) Using light pressure, use the knife to cut the plastic
2) Fold the LED leads into a V 3) Fold the short lead of the LED back slightly iron tin cutters knife Lighter Protective eyewear Poster stick gum Mini jar Cr2032 holder Cr2032 battery 10mm LED bulb Tilt/angle switch
Amazon: DIY “TURN TO TURN ON
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• Soldering
• Wire
•
Prepare Angle/tilt Switch
2) Remove the bottom half of the plastic from the switch on the side opposite from the leads
3) Optional: a lighter can be used to heat and remove the plastic, but be careful not to burn it or breathe in the fumes
Removing barriers to the switch allows electricity to flow freely through it, moving through the electrons in the metal. In metals, electrons are shared between atoms in a sort of “ sea ” that allows them to move independently of individual atoms. This movement of electrons is what generates electrical current.
24 | DIY Tilt Light
• Double sided sticky foam/tape
• Small
The “Turn to Turn On” Jar is exactly what it sounds like: a simple DIY that will help you learn about how circuits and electricity work by building a light that turns on when you turn the jar Described on instructables com by David Bakker, this project can be completed in under a half an hour Before you get started, you’ll need to gather some materials, all of which can be bought on ”
•
1) Use the wire cutters to cut the lead on the underside of the Cr2032 holder.
Test LED Bulb and Battery Set up the battery holder
By: Rachel Mason
This step is mostly just preparation, but it’s always a good idea to make sure the components work before starting a project
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2) Fold the negative lead on the underside to the outside.
JAR
The tilt/angle switch should be covered in plastic, but half of it needs to be removed since it is going to be soldered on.
1) Test the LED bulb and battery by connecting the long lead (wire) on the LED to the battery the LED bulb should light up
•
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4) With protective eyewear on, clip and save one of the leads from the switch
• Soldering
Solder the LED Bulb to the Circuit
1) Connect negative lead from circuit to negative LED and LED to tilt switch by touching them together
1) Decorate the glass jar any way you wish! Painting it different colors will create a neat effect when it casts out light. 2) Screw the jar onto the lid and flip it over to test it out. To see photos of the steps, visit the Instructable page for this DIY online
Attach the Bulb and Circuit to the Lid
For our purposes, the negative lead of the battery holder needs to be longer This allows us to get some good soldering practice Soldering, which is used in many STEM fields, including computer and electrical engineering, is when two metals are joined together by melting a solder, or metal alloy Since soldering uses heat, it is important to exercise caution Poster gum can be used to hold materials in place for added security
3) Solder the LED to the circuit in the same place tested in step 1
Solder Tilt Switch to Battery Holder
Some useful tips: when removing the soldering iron, move up at a 45 degree angle to make sure that the tin stays in the nook; exercise caution as the tilt switch gets very warm
1) Insert the battery into the holder (can be done after, but doing it before helps stabilize the setup)
Solder Extra Lead on Negative Lead
2) Fold the remaining lead of the tilt switch down
2) With the tilt switch facing up, solder it to the leg of the battery holder
DIY Tilt Light | 25
This part is tricky because it requires more heat and time, but with practice, it can be really helpful to develop one ’ s skills! Soldering the tilt switch on as straight as possible will get the best results
1) Hold the LED above the tilt switch to make sure it gets positioned correctly
Obviously, this mechanism is dependent on the physical inversion of the tilt switch, but how does that actually work, and what are the real life uses? Tilt switches work by defining a pre set normal or “ zero ” state and then reacting to any deviation from that that reaches a minimum threshold. Reaching this threshold will cause the switch to close and interrupt the electron flow in the circuit, which is why the light turns off when inverted. This technology is used for the design of everything from game controllers to valves that exchange gases for science experiments and industrial chemistry.
Circuits work effectively when electrons flow continuously through them, so if this step fails, something in the circuit is preventing free electron flow.
Test the Circuit
2) Turn the apparatus upside down, if it lights up, all is well!
1) Stick the double sided tape to the bottom of the circuit 2) Stick the LED into the middle of the Lid.
4) Wearing eye protection, clip the access lead off the LED
Step 9: Make it Your Own
1) Solder the extra lead to the negative end by placing the wire on the soldering tin and heating with the soldering iron
2) Fold the extended lead up towards the battery.
CCaffeine affeine
W By: Selena Cao
26 | Caffeine & Sleep hat do green tea and coffee have in common? You guessed it, caffeine! Caffeine is a natural, psychoactive substance widely used as a supplement in both beverages and foods across the world Caffeine has a known stimulant effect, and its consumption can improve energy levels, help people feel less tired, and improve brain function Many people choose to have their daily cup of joe in the morning to reap these refreshing benefits. Caffeine consumed later in the day, in fact, causes more harm than good.
Caffeine’s Effect on the Brain
Overall, an overconsumption of caffeine can result in a reduction of sleep time, efficiency, and satisfaction levels. The chemical also notably reduces the amount of slow wave sleep that we receive, which is the deep, restful sleep that is vital for proper brain functioning for the next day. For all you coffee lovers and soda fanatics, experts say the best time to consume caffeine is between 9:30 and 11:30 AM as well as 1 to 5 PM. During these windows, caffeine typically promotes productivity and does not affect our sleep hormones as drastically To ensure a restful night while keeping caffeine in your routine, stick to these guidelines when it comes to your coffee
Caffeine’s Effect on Sleep
Caffeine is the most widely consumed central nervous system stimulant. Its chemical structure is similar to that of adenosine, which induces drowsiness. Caffeine mimics adenosine and attaches to adenosine receptors in our brain. It effectively blocks the receptors, making us feel more alert and awake
&&Sleep Sleep Caffeine & Sleep | 27
Caffeine’s strongest effects are usually felt within 30 to 60 minutes of consumption After consuming caffeine for an extended period of time, the brain will begin creating new adenosine receptors, creating a continuous need for more caffeine The more adenosine receptors you have, the more caffeine you will need to consume in order to block these receptors. Caffeine stimulates our brain cells, initiating a chain reaction in doing so. Caffeine chemicals first alert our pituitary gland, a hormone control center for our body, kicking off a chain reaction in the body. The pituitary gland then signals the adrenal glands, located above the kidneys, to release a hormone called adrenaline; our “fight or flight” reaction is triggered by this hormone With our brains in an adrenaline induced state, we become irritable, agitated, and significantly more emotionally charged
Scientists have shown that consuming caffeine later in the day can not only disrupt sleep, but also reset the body’s circadian rhythm (which is our body’s way of keeping us on a 24 hour schedule of sleep, activity, and brain function) Consuming caffeine 3 6 hours before bedtime reduces total sleep time by one hour and increases the likelihood of having difficulty falling asleep
YOU SHOULD FOLLOW 28 | Makers You Should Follow By: Caeley Looney
Makers You Should Follow | 29 @woodenmaven CHAR MILLER KING @hammersandhijabs IMAN HAMZE @therealtamararobertson TAMARA ROBERTSON @danielleboyer DANIELLE BOYER BECKY STERN @bekathwia Whetheryou’rejustlookingfor someDIYinspirationoryou wanttolearnsomenewmaker skills,thesearethepeopleyou wanttofollowonInstagram. Fromwoodworkingtorobotics, theseamazingmakers producecontentthatcanhelp youwithanyprojectyouwant totacklenext. Woodworking Teacher STEAM Education Powertools Content Creator Home Design DIY Design Renovation Artist Interior Design Creator STEAM Maker Engineer Inventor Tutorials Robotics Inventor Engineering Education Founder STEM Maker Mythbuster Engineer Scientist Collaborator
30 | Makers You Should Follow @toolgirlsgarage SARAH LISTI KRISTIN | LIPSTICK & SAWDUST @kristensawdust @woodbrain LINDSAY ZUELICH @pinksoulstudios ALMA ROSA VILLALOBOS @schac attack JEN SCHACHTER CNC Woodworking Maker Powertools Tips & Tricks Woodworking DIY Interior Design Renovation Repurposing Home Design DIY Design Renovation Artist Interior Design Creator Powertools Home Design Woodworking Renovation Tips & Tricks Maker Collaborative Art Design Props & Cosplay
ALLIE ALLIE ALLIE Katz Katz Katz on Blending YouTube Creator Art and Science
By: Meghana Krishna
Many of Allie’s earliest exposures to STEAM came from spending time in the Hands On Museum in Ann Arbor, Michigan, their hometown. They credit the opportunity to build and create with their hands at a young age with sparking their interest in making “I was an insatiably curious child who was obsessed with learning and trying everything I could,” Allie recalls. “The Hands On Museum provided such a perfect double whammy of science and making, and I was definitely hooked.” Katz
Today, Allie continues to express their creativity through their online platform. Some of their most popular projects feature custom LED necklaces that monitor air quality in real time, 3D printed cosplay costumery, and general advice on how to best use 3D printers. As a self driven designer, artist, and technologist, Allie needs to wear many hats. “My work is incredibly varied and diverse, and I make sure to share as much of it online as possible,” they say “The balancing act is challenging though, as I am basically my own ten piece orchestra!”
32 | Allie
For as long as they can remember, Allie Katz has had an insatiable curiosity for science. The self described creative technologist and multidisciplinary artist is the face behind the YouTube channel, Katz Creates, where they share DIY tutorials that blend art, making, and technology.
"Being able to reach and inspire people all over the world is an amazing side effect to putting one’s creations online.”
“One of my favorite parts of putting free educational content on YouTube is the knowledge that it can be seen by anyone, anywhere, at any time,” shares Allie. “My 3D printed braille video, for example, did not hit any kind of huge numbers when it was shared, but since then has been found and utilized by several international organizations working to improve accessibility for low sighted and blind individuals. Being able to reach and inspire people all over the world is an amazing side effect to putting one’s creations online.”
Apersonality!"lliecancontrol the 3D printer both remotely from a browser and directly from BMO with a touchscreen and custom buttons. “It’s also extremely cute and fully functional as a mini computer, thanks to the 8GB Raspberry Pi 4 that is BMO’s brain! I want everyone to be able to make their own BMO, so I’ve put countless hours of care and effort into making sure it’s as seamless and easy to build as possible,” says Allie. “Picking a favorite project always feels a bit like having to choose my favorite child! But I am very proud of the design work I’ve done for BMO.”
As their channel grows, Allie plans to continue doing projects that combine traditional processes with technology, especially electronics using Arduino. They also hope to get involved with some bigger projects that will require them to branch out of their small (currently 4 by 2 meters!) workshop. “Basically, bigger and better all the way!” they say Allie hopes their content empowers viewers to feel that no matter who they are, where they come from, or what they’ve done before, their creativity and self expression are valid.
Allie describes the project as a portmanteau of BMO (the character from Adventure Time) and Octoprint (a 3D printing remote manager). "It's basically a friendly robot shaped control system for my 3D printer, with a bit of extra
Allie's recent BMOctoprint project, which involved recreating a popular Adventure Time character, is one of their favorites.
Putting non patronising, clear, and fun educational content out there and telling kids ‘YOU CAN DO IT’ can actually do wonders ”
34 | Allie Katz
Everyone, emphasizes Allie, is creative, whether they choose to explore that potential or not “I think we’re reaching a really exciting chapter in our culture where free education around STEAM subjects is reaching an all time high,” they say. “But, it doesn’t matter how much knowledge is out there if young people don’t think they deserve to know it or can use it. I think lots of kids are naturally curious about STEAM subjects, but are discouraged from learning about them because they are seen as not smart or capable enough, and nothing breaks a child’s spirit quite like being told they can’t do something.
"Time and space may have limitations, but you don’t have to if you simply keep moving ard"
36 | Allie Katz As a nonbinary person, Allie’s presence in the maker sphere serves as both an inspiration and a reminder that the community has a long way to go in cultivating diversity. Allie acknowledges the difficulty in making the space more diverse: doing so requires a balance between listening to underrepresented groups when they share what kind of support they need and actively working on recruiting new communities. Placing diverse individuals in positions of leadership can have a powerful impact on making groups more welcoming. In addition, supporting diverse makers and content creators is key to making a space safer and more accommodating to everyone. Listening (to diverse groups) before acting is ALWAYS essential and something we can all make an effort to implement in our own lives,” says Allie
Allie Katz | 37
Allie largely credits the success of their platform to a stubbornness that has protected them from giving up in the face of challenges and a passion for empowering women and gender nonconforming individuals “I’ve spent most of my life being held down and told I can’t do things I want to inspire all the hopeful transgender engineers, physicists, and artists out there, especially those who are non binary like myself and maybe don’t feel like they really belong anywhere. The world may not be terribly accepting or accommodating of people like us, but we ARE out there, as are many who would fight for our chance to belong in these industries.”
"telling kids 'YOU CAN DO IT' can actually do wonders."
"I’ve never been keen on flowery or unrealistic advice; I know all too well that the world contains challenges for us to surmount, and things are rarely as easy as we wish they were,” shares Allie. “Having a realistic and level headed view of the world is important, but don’t forget to balance it out with an unfettered optimistic view of YOURSELF The world NEEDS new scientists, artists, and engineers; the space will present itself if you keep going until it finds you Time and space may have limitations, but you don’t have to if you simply keep moving forward.”
LED tips tips
WHAT
BY: ALLIE KATZ
Individually addressable LEDs (sometimes called Neopixels or Dotstar LEDs) are definitely one of the most alluring components of a DIY electronics project: they light up, they make colorful rainbows, and you can program them to illuminate within almost any pattern or design you can imagine! Unfortunately, they can also be complicated, come in a huge variety of types, and information about using them can be a bit overwhelming if you’re new to the world of Arduino and DIY electronics. ARE LEDS?
Intro to LEDs | 39
Proof that air quality data can be fun and fabulous!
40 | Intro to LEDs Not all too long ago, I found myself in that same position of being new to these programmable LED strips and feeling a bit unsure of myself Searches for guides and tutorials left me feeling confused as the information provided often seemed to rely on prior experience, and I didn’t have any! I ended up doing a lot of my own careful experimentation alongside the well documented experiences of others to fill in the gaps of knowledge and allow me to create the incredible Clean Air Necklace, a wearable piece of tech containing a whopping 185 RGB LEDs that can be powered from a single pocket power bank! So, what did I learn in this experience, and what can YOU learn from my experiments? If you ’ re pretty new to electronics and totally new to LEDs, then you ’ re in luck, because I’ve gathered together my top tips for jumping into the exciting world of colour and light for Reinvented Magazine in hopes of dispelling some of the fear and confusion about using this great component!
Intro to LEDs | 41 understanding the REAL power requirements ONE
There are so many amazing ways you can provide diffusion for your LEDs, and thankfully a number of awesome people have provided great examples of ways to do it, but it really cannot be understated how POWERFUL diffusion can be! Not only can it completely alter the look of the lights, but it can also be used to increase the coverage, allowing you to potentially cut back on the number of LEDs you need for a project. Don’t be afraid to get creative with your diffusion techniques as well, just remember that LEDs generate heat and to make sure you use materials that aren’t flammable! I used fire retardant polyester wadding for my necklace, placed underneath the 3D printed TPU.
The reality is that power draw is very much tied to what is being displayed on the LEDs; the 60 milliamp example would be if every single LED were at full brightness and white at the exact same time When I tested my strips with an ammeter at a brightness that actually looked good on the body, I was actually shocked to find how much lower the power draw was!
The reality is that these LEDs CAN draw an incredible amount of power, but they don’t always need to, depending on how you are using them. diffusion is powerful TWO
For me, this was the biggest, scariest, and most confusing part of figuring out how to safely utilise LEDs in my project, mostly because individually addressable LEDs are capable of a HUGE power draw Adafruit’s Neopixel Uberguide mentions that each LED has the capacity to draw down as much as 60 milliamps at full power, which means that a full metre of high density LEDs (144 per metre) can draw over 8 full amps of power! Even the ‘real world’ estimate of 20 milliamps per LED still amounted to almost 3 amps of power consumption, which in no way would be safe to have so close to skin So how is it possible to safely put 185 LEDs inside a necklace?
And that’s with TWO metres of LEDs; 288 in total!
Understanding how you want to use the LEDs and what you want to accomplish with them is such an important part of determining what you’ll need to pull off the project Are you making a lamp that needs to fill the room with light, but can be big enough to have a lot of space to make big diffusers? Are you creating a tiny object that has to be seen from across a distance? Will it be observed in a bright space, or a dark one? Looking at how others have used LEDs in their projects online can be a great help if you ’ re unfamiliar with how the component can look and work, but chances are there is a solution for your need, and likely a range of options of how to pull it off at that! Once you ’ ve got a good idea of the requirements for your project, figuring out things like exact power and component needs becomes a lot easier. not all LEDS are the same! FOUR
If you ’ re connecting LEDs to an Arduino, then there is a huge range of options available for code libraries when it comes to animation, and while there is a lot of overlap, many bring their own special perks and those things are great to know in advance! I used FastLED and I cannot recommend it enough for making awesome animations, even if you are not an advanced coder. It included some great options, such as a built in power limiter so you can’t overdraw power!
Regardless of what you use, it’s wise to get familiar with it beforehand to see what it can do to make your life (and code!) easier If you want to follow along with my projects and learn more about art and technology along with me, whether that’s LEDs, ceramics or 3D printing, make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel and follow me on social media (I’m @KatzCreates everywhere!) I’m frequently sharing my experiences along with tips, personal blunders, and sometimes even project files and guides I’d love to have you along for the ride!
FIVE
42 | Intro to LEDs know your use case THREE
This may seem obvious, but there is a MUCH bigger degree of variation to addressable LEDs than one may think, even within the same type! I made the assumption that all LED strips had solder pads on the back of the strips (because I saw some that did) but the ones I got did not! I had to scrape away the black covering to expose the metal underneath to solder to it, which I wish I’d known in advance! Learn from my mishap! I really wanted to hide the wires behind the strips, so soldering to the back was essential! get to know your animation library
By: Isabel Powell What is renewable energy and why should I care about it?
The Science Behind Renewable Energy
Watt Off the Press!
Fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, are finite resources formed over millions of years by subterranean pressure The slow formation process means that fossil fuels are not easily replenishable and will soon run out We use fossil fuels to generate electricity: burning fossil fuels produces heat, which is then used to boil water. The steam that consequently emerges is capable of rotating a motor’s turbine and creating electricity. As of 2022, 84% of the world’s energy comes from fossil fuels, but it is expected that we will run out of these resources by 2060. Unfortunately, fossil fuels release vast quantities of greenhouse gasses like carbon dioxide that contribute to global warming As greenhouse gasses are released into the atmosphere, they trap solar energy and prevent heat from leaving the Earth When the ratios between atmospheric gasses are out of balance, as they are now, the Earth begins to warm unhealthily. This global warming threatens plant species and wildlife by altering climate patterns, disrupting habitats, and increasing the incidence of natural disasters For environmental, resource, and social stability reasons, it is imperative that we adopt renewable energy practices immediately. Behind
The Science
Renewable Energy | 43
The Sun’s energy drives the Earth’s cycles and allows life to flourish All the plants we eat, from wheat growing in a field to apples in an orchard, use light to build sugars and grow Heat from the Sun evaporates water, forms clouds, and induces rainfall The Sun heats the Earth, making our planet hospitable enough for all sorts of animals, plants, and microorganisms to survive Solar panels (specifically, photovoltaic cells) harness the Sun’s power and transform it into electricity for our use. Solar cells absorb radiation from the Sun, which results from the movement of photons, tiny particles of light.
Disadvantages of Solar Panels and Potential Solutions: Photovoltaic cells are carefully designed to transform the energy from photons into electricity Each cell contains one panel with phosphorus and one with boron Since the panel containing phosphorus contains a surplus of electrons, it ends up being negatively charged Similarly, since the panel containing boron has a deficit of electrons, it is positively charged The difference in charges generates an electric field that is crucial to solar energy capture. When a photovoltaic cell is placed outside on a sunny day, photons of light bounce off of these electrons and knock a few free. Conductive plates collect and transfer these electrons through a wire. When these electrons move through a wire, we end up with usable electricity!
While solar panels may be initially expensive, they provide an enormous environmental benefit by decreasing harmful emissions and generate a reliable, clean energy source
Reliable: The Sun will provide a constant and abundant energy source for the next 4 billion years, unlike fossil fuels, which are estimated to run out by 2060.
Advantages of Solar Panels: Expensive: Solar panels can be expensive, depending on the size and whether or not they are subsidized by the government. Installation costs of solar panels range from $11,144 to $14,696 in the United States, which may be unreasonable for many people. However, after installation, you no longer have to pay for electricity. Over time, solar panels produce enough energy that they not only recover the initial investment, but begin to actually save money!
Solar Power
Effective and Simple Environment Friendly: Solar panels produce twenty times less carbon dioxide than traditional, non renewable electricity sources, significantly reducing the risk of environmental damage
44 | The Science Behind Renewable Energy
Weather-Dependent: Unfortunately, solar panels require that the Sun be visible, complicating dependence during the night or rainy days However, many solar panels have solar battery banks that store unused energy during particularly sunny days for cloudier days or dark nights
For centuries, people have relied on energy from the wind to do work. In ancient Egypt, boats were first propelled down the Nile River using wind energy In China in 200 BC, water pumps were powered by the wind; in the Middle East, windmills ground grain for consumption European colonists in the Americas used windmills to similarly grind grain, pump water, and cut wood Now, wind turbines provide energy to 15 million American homes and generate 6% of global energy
Wind Turbines
Wind turbines are tall towers with three blades and a nacelle The nacelle contains the machinery the controller, generator, and gearbox necessary to capture energy.
The blades are designed such that when wind blows on the blade, a low pressure pocket forms on one side of the blade, causing the blade to move. This is called lift, which is the same physical phenomena that allows airplanes to fly. Gears inside of the blade allow the central rotor to rotate 1,800 times per minute. A generator, found inside the nacelle, converts the energy from the moving blades into electricity.
The Science Behind Renewable Energy | 45
Relatively Dependable: There is a consistent source of wind in the environment, even if on some days it may be light.
Geothermal Environment Friendly: Just like solar energy, wind turbines do not rely on fossil fuels or emit dangerous greenhouse gasses Efficient: They produce large quantities of energy and are able to support entire communities at a time
Initially Expensive: Additionally, they may be initially expensive to install, but once successfully set up, wind turbines are low cost and produce large quantities of usable energy Wind Turbines
Overall, wind turbines provide yet another relatively simple and incredibly effective source of renewable, clean energy.
Advantages of Wind Turbines: Disadvantages of Wind Turbines and Potential Solutions: Hazardous to Some Wildlife: Wind turbines can pose a threat to certain animal species, particularly birds, that risk flying into the rotating blades. Noisy: Wind turbines are considered noisy, but often are placed far away from populated areas.
The Science Behind Renewable Energy | 47
Advantages of Geothermal Energy: Disadvantages of Geothermal Energy: Expensive and Location Dependent: Geothermal energy requires extensive drilling near tectonic plate boundaries. Risk: There is also a small risk that geothermal energy production could trigger a minor earthquake. However, since geothermal plants are located far away from cities and populated areas, this earthquake is unlikely to be severe
Despite the potential drawbacks of solar panels, wind turbines, or geothermal energy, renewable energy provides an efficient, cost effective, and reliable solution to our growing energy dependence and ongoing climate crisis By accepting these challenges and welcoming renewable energy with open arms, we can embrace the enormous opportunities that these solutions provide and confront global warming head on Naturally Replenishable: The water underneath the Earth’s surface is constantly reheated and replenished, making this energy source renewable and reliable.
The core of the Earth is an incredible source of energy It is so hot, in fact, that it can melt solid rock to form lava The core ’ s extreme heat produces large quantities of steam under the Earth’s surface Geothermal electricity production uses naturally produced steam and its movement to rotate a turbine. Similar to wind turbines, rotation in a carefully designed generator produces electricity.
Although geothermal energy poses a potential environmental hazard, its energy benefits may significantly outweigh its risks
Reliable: Geothermal energy does not face any weather dependent drawbacks of solar or wind energy. Environment Friendly: It also does not pollute the environment by producing carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gasses, making it a sustainable solution to the environmental crisis
Effective: It is estimated that geothermal energy production could provide up to 13% of current energy needs
Does the multitude of appendages on a millipede make you squeamish? What about the slippery slither of a slug, the ever-multiplying mass of bacteria around you, or the squishiness of a fruiting fungus? Chances are, you may be nervous around these organisms or you might know someone who is. Given our tendency to associate these organisms with disease and filth, that’s not surprising.
A Peek
While humble decomposers such as fungi, bacteria, and insects may not be the most glamorous organisms, their quiet work is essential in allowing entire ecosystems to flourish. From cheese to kimchi, the results of their work (such as controlled rot through fermentation) can even be seen on our plates Our world belongs to organisms that creep, crawl, and squirm the global biomass of decomposers far exceeds that of humans Best of all, those curious about their workings can easily observe the organisms at work in a compost bin from the comfort of their own backyard
Composting: Decom
48 | Composting: A Peek into the World of Decomposition
Composting: A Peek into the World of Decomposition | 49
While microbes like the ones that first evolved to break down lignin are by far the dominant organisms in compost clocking in at 1 billion bacteria per gram of compost they are far from the only organisms at play. Compost organisms generally fall under three categories, which represent a surprisingly complex food web. First level decomposers are a motley grouping of bacteria and microorganisms that share the role of physically breaking down composted organic material. Second level decomposers, including nematodes, protozoa, flatworms, and springtails, consume level one decomposers. Third level decomposers are well known macroscopic organisms: ants, beetles, worms, spiders, centipedes, and woodlice, to name just a few. If the ramifications of decomposition are unclear, think about the fact that Earth’s first forests emerged about 400 million years ago, in a time when decomposition as we know it didn't exist. These forests were dominated by trees that evolved to utilize an organic polymer called lignin to grow woody trunks that could reach massive heights Early terrestrial microbes had not yet evolved to be able to decompose the tough, complex structure of lignin The result was an accumulation of massive amounts of dead, undecomposed, woody material, which formed the carbon deposits that would eventually comprise massive coal reserves used for energy today Additionally, the lack of decomposition meant that carbon wasn’t being released back into the atmosphere As the proportion of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere plummeted, Earth experienced an extreme cooling that eventually led to glaciations Today, microbes and other organisms have the ability to decompose these as well as other compounds that have since evolved By: Luyang Zhang into the Worldofposition
50 | Composting: A Peek into the World of Decomposition
As a result, they are generally better suited for more seasoned composters The ideal ratio of brown to green waste can vary, but compost should be moist (not too soggy or dry) and smell earthy and slightly sweet or sour, not rancid. If a compost pile is too wet, adding brown waste can help balance out the pile; alternatively, if the pile is too dry, adding green waste and lightly spritzing with water can help.
As these organisms work in tandem to compost, they engage in two major processes that sustain life on Earth: the carbon cycle and the nitrogen cycle. When organisms die or are added to a compost bin, the nutrients in their bodies remain intact. By metabolizing the dead organic matter, decomposers liberate carbon, nitrogen, and nutrients into the atmosphere and soil
Composters often break up the waste into “brown” and “green” waste, which are rich in carbon and nitrogen, respectively Brown waste includes paper, dry fall leaves, and cotton fabric, while green waste includes grass clippings, vegetable scraps, and eggshells Dairy, meat, and fats can also be composted, but are more likely to produce foul odors and attract rodents that disrupt the decomposition process
As the metabolic activity of organisms in a compost pile increases, energy will be released from the decomposition process as heat, causing composting piles to steam This increase in temperature, which can happen anywhere from two to three days after beginning composting, is useful in preventing pathogens and weed seeds from growing in your nutrient dense compost. However, at high enough temperatures, this heat can begin to kill the organisms that are required for good compost. Keeping compost between 135 160 degrees Fahrenheit by aerating the pile and light watering, therefore, is critical to maintaining efficient decomposition. Compost will generally release heat steadily for two to four days, after which the pile should be aerated, which will reinvigorate aerobic decomposition. The entire composting process can take as little as six weeks to about a year to complete, but the product, a nutritious, crumbly, dark brown soil perfect for gardening, will be well worth it.
Composting is a fantastic strategy for reducing household waste and creating healthier soil that resists erosion, holds moisture, and improves plant health Even if you don’t grow plants yourself, donating to a community garden or a friend are excellent options As a core part of the natural cycle of life, composting doesn’t need to be fancy, either A pile of compost under tarp is just as viable an option as compost tumblers or countertop food processors In fact, composting isn’t just about the tools you use to get the end product it can also provide a way to feel more connected to the products you use, the food you eat, the land you live on, the plants you nurture, and perhaps most importantly, the billions of bacteria, insects, and fungi that made it possible to begin with A Peek into the World of Decomposition
| 51
Composting:
Glue Stick Light Pipe Sculpture
For this project we will create a “fiber optic” rainbow archway using glue sticks and a NeoPixel LED dot strand The NeoPixels hidden beneath the glue sticks guide the light in a curved path away from the LEDs Because each glue stick connects two different NeoPixels, they are able to mix colors in the center, allowing tons of different color combinations to be achieved. You can make neat sculptures with light effects!
This guide demonstrates how to make, assemble, and code your own glue stick fiber optic art piece, demonstrating how to control the speed, color, and interactive potential of the light display, as well as alternative glue stick arrangements Fiber Optic… -ish Fiber optic cables work through a unique property called “total internal reflection,” allowing them to carry huge amounts of information in the form of light almost losslessly. Glue sticks do not make good substitutes for fiber optic cable because they don’t have total internal reflection; rather, they act like light pipes, both scattering and reflecting light that enters them This does, however, make them great light diffusers, which suits this project just fine
DIY:
By: Dano Wall via Adafruit
54 | DIY: LEDs Materials Make Code Circuit Playground Express USB Cable: USB A to Micro B Adafruit NeoPixel LED Dots Strand: 20 LEDs at 2” Pitch 3 x AAA Battery Holder with On/Off Switch and 2 Pin JST 3 x AAA Batteries Electronics Scrap corrugated cardboard Scissors and/or box cutter 9 x Hot glue sticks (10 inches long x 0 44 inches wide is ideal) Other Materials Getting Familiar The code for this project was created using Microsoft MakeCode for Adafruit, a web based code editor MakeCode provides a block editor, similar to Scratch of Code org, and a JavaScript editor for more advanced users Use the QR code to visit the online Adafruit tutorial and download the code needed for this project How to Upload Code To upload code, connect the Circuit Playground Express to your computer using a micro USB cable and press the small reset button in the center of the board All the LEDs will flash red briefly, then turn green Your computer should now show a removable drive called CPLAYBOOT Click the Download button to download the uf2 file to your computer, and drag and drop that uf2 file onto the CPLAYBOOT drive in your computer’s file explorer or finder. The drive will automatically eject itself (your computer may give you a “failed to eject drive correctly” error, you can ignore this). This code is now on your Circuit Playground Express and ready to run!
Solution: (1) Be sure you have a Circuit Playground Express The Class will not work with MakeCode (2) Some USB cables are “charge only” and won’t pass data Try using a different USB cable and try using a different USB port on your computer (3) With the Circuit Playground plugged into your computer with a micro USB cable, click the small reset button in the center of the board The lights should all turn green If they don’t, try double clicking the reset button.
Problem: My Circuit Playground Express doesn’t show up as CPLAYBOOT.
Problem: My NeoPixels won’t light up!
DIY: LEDs | 55 What's Happening? First, in the on start loop, we tell the Circuit Playground Express that a NeoPixel strand with 20 pixels is going to be connected at pin A1 Then we tell it how bright we want our lights to be (as bright as possible)
Then in the forever loop, we tell the strip to show one frame of the “rainbow” animation at a time, with a 5 millisecond delay between each frame. If you’d like to play with this code, click “Edit” and a new window will open, in which you can create your own version.
Troubleshooting
MakeCode is fun to work with and easy to customize, allowing you to get some great results with just a little trial and error.
Solution: Make sure that your Circuit Playground Express is connected to a power source (anywhere between 3V 5V is safe) If you’re using a AAAx3 battery pack, check that the switch on the battery pack is set to “ON”
Changing the NeoPixel Animation
If you’d like to change or add anything to your light show, you will find the NEOPIXEL section becomes available after you click on the LIGHT section. Click on the LIGHT block at the top of the list. The code in this block deals with the Circuit Playground’s onboard lights. When you click this tab, a new block called NEOPIXEL appears. This is the block you want. The options in this block deal with any light strips extraneous to the NeoPixels already onboard the CPX and provide many fun options for animating your NeoPixel strip
Be careful and work slowly! Hot glue is dangerous and will burn your fingertips if you ’ re not careful Add Glue Sticks Once the hot glue has cooled, grab 8 pristine glue sticks and insert the ends of the glue sticks into the top of the holes, pressing them tightly up against the NeoPixel dots. Clean it Up If desirable, cut around the outside edge to give the rainbow platform a clean and finished appearance
There are two ways to create the platform for your glow stick archway: cutting it out of cardboard or using a laser cutter to create an acrylic piece that will hold the ends of the glue sticks firmly in place. In this issue, we include the instructions for a cardboard version, which requires only some cardboard, paper, glue, and scissors.
Assembly
You can use this QR code to visit the Adafruit tutorial and download the template for the base. Print Template Download the PDF of the glue stick matrix template and print it out Glue the template to a piece of cardboard Press the cardboard and paper under something heavy Wait 10 15 minutes for the glue to fully dry. Cut Holes Use your scissors or box cutter to cut out the small holes in the cardboard. Stay slightly inside the lines to ensure the glue sticks fit tightly in the holes.
Glue NeoPixel Dots Glue the NeoPixel dots one by one to the underside of each hole
On
jumper wires and alligator clips are a fast and simple way to connect the end of the
A combination of short
The Circuit Just Add Power this NeoPixel strip, the red wire is +5V, the middle wire is data, and the other edge wire is ground. from the pads on the Circuit Playground the red wire to Vout, the middle wire to A1, and the edge wire to GND. male female NeoPixel strand
Express, connect
Using alligator clips
to the pads on CPX To power your NeoPixel Dot strip, just connect a battery to the JST port on the Circuit Playground Express and you should see it boot up after a second or two. Full project tutorial and link for photos here
Grace Hopper Celebration (GHC) 2022
Where: Houston, TX When: October 20 22, 2022
What: GHC is the world’s largest gathering of women technologists. Attend inspiring keynotes and sessions, network with peers, and gain important resources to help you succeed in and further your career. Scholarship opportunities are now available!
OPPORTUNITY BOARD
Where: Seattle, WA When: November 5, 2022
What: GeekGirlCon gives female geeks and their supporters the opportunity to build a community, share facts and fandom, and learn how they can help promote the role of women and other underrepresented groups in geek culture
What: The goal of the Tapia Conferences is to bring together undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, researchers, and professionals in computing from all backgrounds and ethnicities to celebrate diversity, connect with others, obtain advice and make new contacts, and be inspired by great presentations and conversations with leaders.
Where: Virtual & In Person in Orlando, FL
WE22: Society of Women Engineers Annual Conference
Where: Washington D C
What: WE22 is the world’s largest conference for women in engineering and technology featuring networking opportunities, community building, inspirational content, and a career fair
When: September 20th 23, 2022
58 | Opportunities Board
When: September 7th 10, 2022
GeekGirlCon 2022
2022 Tapia Conference
Where: College Campuses
When: October 10 15, 2022
Where: Virtual When: Registration started December 2022, Program begins January 2023
Girls Who Code (College Loops)
Girls in Tech Conference 2022
Where: Nashville, TN When: September 7, 2022
What: At the highly anticipated annual conference you’ll learn something new, be empowered to drive change in the industry, and make exciting connections. Here, you can have real, meaningful conversations, catch speakers after their presentations for a quick chat, grow your network of trailblazing women, and get fired up about issues that matter International Latinas in Engineering Week (ILEW) 2022
What: Girls Who Code is a nonprofit organization used to empower women in STEM. Girls Who Code College Loops are on campus programs for female and non binary college students. College Loops helps women hone their computer science skills and encourage other women to take action, collaborate, create, and inspire one another, all while having a lasting impact on their communities! (Ages: 18+)
Technovation (competition)
Opportunities Board | 59
When: Starts September 2022
Where: Virtual & In Person in Chicago, IL
What: Technovation is a worldwide competition where female, trans, or non binary students (ages 8 18) create solutions to real world problems through technology They build an app or an AI prototype, having an adult mentor and a team of up to four people. Participants will develop skills to lead and create change, and compete internationally.
What: ILEW is an international event that connects diverse women in engineering and provides them with resources for success in STEM fields. The week long event includes live, virtual sessions, mentorship opportunities, career exploration, and scholarship awards.
60 | Ask Gloria A S K G L O R I A q u e s t i o n & a n s w e r S h a y n a W Q u e s t i o n : W h a t i s y o u r f a v o r i t e w a y t o d e s t r e s s a f t e r a l o n g w e e k ? A n s w e r : M y f a v o r i t e w a y t o d e s t r e s s a f t e r a l o n g d a y i s t o p a r t i c i p a t e i n s o m e s e l f c a r e . F o r m e , s e l f c a r e i s d a i l y h o t y o g a b u t I a l s o d e s t r e s s b y c o o k i n g a m e a l f r o m s c r a t c h , g o i n g f o r a h i k e , a n d h a n g i n g o u t i n t h e h o t t u b ! Q u e s t i o n : H i G l o r i a , t o m a k e a l o n g s t o r y s h o r t I ( f e m a l e ) h a v e a m a l e c o l l e a g u e t h a t I h a v e h a d c o n t i n u o u s i s s u e s w i t h . H e t a l k s d o w n t o m e a n d h a s a p a t t e r n o f t h i s b e h a v i o r i n t h e p a s t w i t h o t h e r f e m a l e c o l l e a g u e s . I ’ v e s p o k e n t o o u r m a n a g e r a b o u t i t a s d i d t h e o t h e r s , a n d a t t h i s p o i n t I ’ v e t a l k e d t o H R a b o u t p o t e n t i a l o p t i o n s . I t r u l y d o n ’ t k n o w w h a t t o d o b e c a u s e I e n j o y m y w o r k b u t t h e l a c k o f r e s p e c t i s r e a l l y u p s e t t i n g . N o r d o I w a n t t o s t a y w i t h a c o m p a n y t h a t a l l o w s t h i s b e h a v i o r t o c o n t i n u e . I f y o u w e r e i n m y s h o e s , w h a t w o u l d y o u d o ? A n s w e r : T h e I f I w e r e y o u , I w o u l d l o o k f o r a n e w p l a c e t o w o r k . W h a t I f i n d t h e m o s t w o r r y i n g a b o u t y o u r s i t u a t i o n i s t h a t y o u a n d o t h e r s h a v e g o n e t o H R a n d y e t t h e p r o b l e m s t i l l e x i s t s . I t s e e m s t h a t y o u r c o l l e a g u e i s c r e a t i n g a t o x i c w o r k e n v i r o n m e n t a n d v e r y l i t t l e i s b e i n g d o n e t o c o m b a t i t . I f y o u r e a l l y w a n t t o s t a y a t y o u r c o m p a n y , t h e n I w o u l d r e c o m m e n d f i n d i n g a d i f f e r e n t t e a m t o w o r k w h e r e y o u a r e n o t i n c o n t a c t w i t h y o u r c u r r e n t c o l l e a g u e . M o s t o f a l l , t a k e c a r e o f y o u r s e l f b e c a u s e t h i s t y p e o f c u l t u r e i s t o x i c a n d c a n e a s i l y l e a d t o b u r n o u t . w h o i s . . . G l o r i a Q u e s t i o n : A r e t h e r e a n y o n l i n e r e s o u r c e s y o u w o u l d r e c o m m e n d f o r s o m e o n e w h o w a n t s t o l e a r n t e c h n i c a l s k i l l s b u t i s c o m i n g f r o m a n o n S T E M b a c k g r o u n d ? A n s w e r : I f y o u w a n t t o l e a r n s o m e o f t h e b a s i c s o f t e c h , I w o u l d r e c o m m e n d d o i n g H a r v a r d ’ s C S 5 0 o n M I T O p e n C o u r s e o r w a t c h i n g i t o n Y o u T u b e . O n c e y o u f e e l l i k e y o u w a n t t o s t a r t c o d i n g , I w o u l d s t a r t w i t h s o m e t h i n g l i k e M I T S c r a t c h , F r e e C o d e C a m p o r g , o r C o d e c a d e m y Q u e s t i o n : W h a t i s a c o m m o n m i s t a k e y o u s e e w o m e n m a k e i n t h e i r c a r e e r s ? ? A n s w e r : T h e n u m b e r o n e m i s t a k e I s e e p e o p l e m a k e i s n o t n e g o t i a t i n g t h e i r s a l a r i e s . M o s t w o m e n e a r n s i g n i f i c a n t l y l e s s t h a n t h e i r m a l e c o u n t e r p a r t s f o r d o i n g t h e s a m e a m o u n t o f w o r k . N e g o t i a t i n g i s a w a y t o g e t p a i d w h a t y o u a r e a c t u a l l y w o r t h . K i m b w a l a
biography T h e C E O a n d f o u n d e r o f S h u l e , a s t a r t u p t h a t t o k e n i z e s i n t e r n a t i o n a l e x p e r i m e n t a l l e a r n i n g s y s t e m s i n d e c e n t r a l i z e d e d u c a t i o n . P r e v i o u s l y t o v e n t u r i n g o u t o n h e r o w n , s h e w a s S q u a r e ' s U n i v e r s i t y T e c h E v a n g e l i s t w h e r e s h e f o c u s e d o n h e l p i n g c o n n e c t p e o p l e t o t h e t o o l s , p r o g r a m s , a n d s u p p o r t t h e y n e e d t o e n t e r t h e t e c h n o l o g y i n d u s t r y . Q u e s t i o n : W h a t s h o u l d I l o o k f o r i n a c o m p a n y t o f i g u r e o u t i f i t i s a g o o d f i t f o r m e ? D o y o u k n o w o f a n y r e d f l a g s t h a t m a y o f t e n b e o v e r l o o k e d ? A n s w e r : W h e n t r y i n g t o f i n d o u t w h e t h e r a c o m p a n y w o u l d b e a g o o d f i t f o r y o u , I w o u l d f o c u s o n t h e p e o p l e , e n v i r o n m e n t , a n d t o o l s t h a t y o u w o r k w i t h a n d h o w c o m f o r t a b l e y o u a r e w i t h t h e m I t ’ s i m p o r t a n t t o r e m e m b e r t h a t y o u a r e i n t e r v i e w i n g t h e c o m p a n y t o s e e i f t h e y w i l l b e a g o o d f i t a s m u c h a s t h e y a r e i n t e r v i e w i n g y o u I w o u l d a l s o r e c o m m e n d i n t e r v i e w i n g w i t h a c o u p l e d i f f e r e n t c o m p a n i e s o f d i f f e r e n t s i z e s . S o m e p e o p l e e n j o y l a r g e c o m p a n i e s , w h i l e o t h e r s l i k e s m a l l e r o n e s . M a k e s u r e y o u p a y a t t e n t i o n t o c o m p a n y c u l t u r e a n d s e e i f i t a l i g n s w i t h h o w y o u w o r k b e s t .
S c a n h e r e t o s u b m i t y o u r q u e s t i o n t o d a y ! S h a r a f a M . Q u e s t i o n : W h a t i s t h e b e s t p i e c e o f a d v i c e y o u h a v e r e c e i v e d a b o u t j o b s / c a r e e r s ? H o w h a s i t h e l p e d y o u ? A n s w e r : T h e b e s t a d v i c e I e v e r r e c e i v e d a b o u t j o b s o r c a r e e r s i s “ D o t h e s c a r y t h i n g ! ” M a n y t i m e s w e l e t f e a r o r i m p o s t e r s y n d r o m e h o l d u s b a c k f r o m o u r d r e a m s . T h i s p i e c e o f a d v i c e i s w h a t I r e m e m b e r d u r i n g t h o s e t i m e s t o p r o p e l m e f o r w a r d a n d e n c o u r a g e m e t o t a c k l e s o m e t h i n g i n t i m i d a t i n g .
Ask Gloria | 61 Q u e s t i o n : W h a t t i p s d o y o u h a v e o n c o m b a t i n g p r e p r e s e n t a t i o n j i t t e r s ? H o w c a n I b o o s t m y c o n f i d e n c e ? A n s w e r : M y f i r s t p i e c e o f a d v i c e i s t o t a k e a d e e p b r e a t h a n d r e l a x . Y o u a r e s h a r i n g k n o w l e d g e a n d y o u r a u d i e n c e i s t h e r e t o l e a r n . T h e n h a v e f u n ! W h e n y o u a r e h a v i n g f u n , y o u r a u d i e n c e w i l l h a v e f u n . A l s o , k n o w t h a t m i s t a k e s h a p p e n , e v e n t o t h e m o s t s e a s o n e d p r e s e n t e r , a n d i t i s a l l a b o u t h o w y o u h a n d l e t h e m . Y o u d o n ’ t n e e d t o k n o w a l l t h e a n s w e r s , a n d y o u c a n a l w a y s f o l l o w u p l a t e r . L a s t l y , k n o w t h a t l i v e d e m o s a r e h a r d I f y o u c a n g e t a w a y w i t h a p r e r e c o r d i n g o f t h e d e m o , t h e n i t m a k e s i t s m o o t h e r f o r y o u a s a p r e s e n t e r g o t a q u e s t i o n ? W a n t t o a s k G l o r i a a Q u e s t i o n ? Q u e s t i o n : W h a t i s t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t q u a l i t y f o r w o m e n t o h a v e t o b e s u c c e s s f u l i n t h e S T E M f i e l d ? A n s w e r : T h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t s k i l l f o r s o m e o n e i n S T E M t o h a v e i s s t a y i n g c u r i o u s ! A s k i n g h a r d q u e s t i o n s a n d d o i n g t h e p r o b l e m s o l v i n g a n d k n o w l e d g e s h a r i n g i s m o s t l y w h a t S T E M c a r e e r s r e s o l v e a r o u n d , a n d b e i n g c u r i o u s a b o u t t h i n g s h e l p s .
Codenovate ThankYou partnersTo our partners who helped to make this magazine possible through their generosity and dedication to encouraging more women in STEM. 62 | Thank You Partners
silver LEVEL LEVEL One-for-One These participating organizations and institutions will receive free copies of Reinvented Magazine to encourage more girls to pursue and love STEM. One for One Program Participants | 63 gold b r o n z e L E V E L 1 + M a g R e q u e s t s 4 + M a g R e q u e s t s 8 + M a g R e q u e s t s B E C O M E A N O F O P A R T N E R !
Reinvented Inc. PO Box #236155 Cocoa, FL 32923 Issue 13 Summer 2022
