Selected News

Written by Lindsay Mallow

Security/Widefield, CO - On February 12th, the culmination of a project between Grand Mountain Junior High’s STEM Leadership class and the University of Alabama Huntsville’s DETECTS program came to its grand conclusion.  Elementary school students were invited to gather on the soccer field and watch the launching of a high-altitude weather balloon used to measure atmospheric pressure, weather conditions, and air flow patterns.  The STEM class, led by instructor Stephanie Smith, had been working with the UAH DETECTS team for nine weeks to learn about the process, prepare presentations for other students, conduct experiments, and determine the optimal launch date.

UAH-DETECTS

Data Evaluation from Testing via an Educational Challenge with Teachers and Students (DETECTS) is a free outreach program run by UAH staff and graduate students.  Their goal is to provide an exciting, hands-on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) learning experience to children who may not be aware of all the opportunities available to them in the STEM fields.  Grad students Hannah Edmonson and Abigail Williamson have traveled around the country to provide materials, education, and guidance to junior high and high school students.  They have even flown to Guam to work with a group of students who were interested in learning more about weather balloons and atmospheric science.  The program allows schools to track the flight path of their balloon, and see what data is gathered along the way.  Students can also compare their data to that of other groups or previous launches at their own schools.

Taking Flight

After ensuring that weather conditions would be favorable for a launch, Edmonson and Williamson traveled to Colorado Springs and finally met with the STEM Leadership students in person on February 12th.  Approximately 300 elementary students gathered on the soccer field, where the junior high class gave a presentation on the effects of pressure on the balloon, and explained the purpose of their project.  Meanwhile, the balloon was inflated with helium, and a device to track location and monitor conditions was attached.  Finally, bolstered by the excited chanting of “Launch it! Launch it!” by the younger students, the small weather balloon took flight, quickly ascending into the clear sky.  Reaching an altitude of 91,345 feet and a maximum ground speed of 143 mph, the balloon traveled all the way to Oakley, Kansas, an impressive 230 miles away.

 

Analyzing Data and Looking Ahead

Using the data transmitted from the balloon’s tracker, the DETECTS program allows students to see how several different variables affect their balloon’s course through their school’s flight website.  The class was able to see if their predictions about the balloon’s course were correct, and saw the changes in pressure, temperature, and weather at different altitudes.  In addition, presenting what they’ve learned over the course of the project to younger students is a core part of the STEM Leadership class curriculum, preparing students to be able to clearly and confidently express their ideas and findings in the future.  This collaboration was the first time, but not the last, that a Widefield school worked with UAH-DETECTS.  Program coordinators are hoping to bring this project to most, if not all, of Widefield District 3’s junior high and high schools in the future.