Barbara Abecassis. C’est une opportunité unique pour
nos élèves de comprendre toutes les étapes de la
réalisation d’un projet, de l’idée de départ jusqu’à la
réalisation d’un produit fini mettant en valeur leur travail
de recherche.
De la science au design, mais aussi du design à la
science. Apprendre à développer et à enrichir l’utilité
d’un objet. Il a été remarquable au cours de cette année
de constater le va et vient régulier des élèves entre les
salles de science et le design tech lab.
Nos élèves l’ont compris, science et créativité n’ont
pas vocation à se tourner le dos mais à interagir et
s’enrichir. Design et Science, Science et Design...
mariage réussi
The Intersection of Science and Design
Was Galileo the father of modern science? While the
claim is debatable, it goes without question that since
the 17th century science has held the promise of progress—scientific, technical, and even social.
In the 19th century, the study of the steam engine gave
birth to thermodynamics, which immediately revolutionized industry. Indeed, Maxwell’s theory of electromagnetism laid the foundation for most of today’s technological
breakthroughs. For example, GPS, which we all use,
would not have seen the light of day without Einstein’s
work on restrained relativity.
Science and technology are part and parcel of our
daily lives. They still generate curiosity and great expectations, but in recent years they have also raised
suspicion. Is science still synonymous with progress?
While tomorrow’s jobs will place science center-stage in
Europe and the United States, the same sector will have
a difficult time attracting students.
Given the nature of tomorrow’s challenges, it makes
sense that companies such as Google, Siemens, and
even Intel would offer young students from all over the
world the opportunity to participate in their science fairs.
Of course, they would like to promote science and engi-
neering, research and the social sciences, but they also
aim to spark tomorrow’s brilliant ideas.
Like so many students in other schools, several of our
students participated in such fairs this year. Nine middle
school students presented their projects at the Randall
Museum Science Fair, with 6th graders earning first,
second and third place.
With regard to students in the Science Club, six are
participating in the highly selective San Francisco Bay
Area Science Fair (SFBASF), qualifying them for both
the Intel and California State Science Fairs. Several have
received awards, most notably first and second places to
Amely Joly and Sophia Clark for, respectively, a device that detects diabetes thanks to the polarization of
light, and another that detects high blood pressure with
graphite powder. Both participated in the California State
Science Fair in Los Angeles on May 18-19.
With all scientific research completed and with the
science fairs past, what will become of these projects?
Several students decided to continue on to another creative phase, taking full advantage of the resources of the
Design Lab and the expertise of Barbara Abecassis. It’s
a unique opportunity for our students to understand all
the stages of completing a project: from the inception of
an idea to the creation of a final product, bringing their
research to fruition.
Science in design, and design in science... learning
how to develop and improve the utility of an object.
Over the course of this year, it was remarkable to see the
constant flow of students from the Science Wing to the
Design Lab. Our students understood that science and
creativity cannot turn their backs on one another, but
should instead interact and enrich one another. Science
and design are, without a doubt, the perfect match!
