Standing room only at Project Exploration's "Science of Chocolate" Winter Science Exploration
Yesterday Project Exploration held its Winter Science Exploration, an annual event in the smack-dab middle of winter break. This year we explored “The Science of Chocolate.” The house was packed for Lady Chocolate (Melissa) from Chicago’s own Blommer Chocolate, who gave us a tasting tour of the process by which chocolate is made – and the variables that give us everything from chocolate for baking, to melt-in-your mouth “fine-grained” truffles, to white chocolate. (I couldn’t believe how much my love for geology and the rock cycle would pay off if I became a chocolate professional!)
The day concluded with a special event – for me. It was a kind of celebration as Project Exploration evolves and I move into my new role as Senior Explorer – in other words, Project Exploration’s “opportunity scout.”
In addition to Project Exploration’s co-co-co founders who came in person – people who were the truly earliest boosters and idea-helpers and fundraising ambassadors and first board members (Renee Schoenberg, Mike and Susan Klonsky, Cindy Mitchell, Mae Hong, Mike Hettwer, Philip Sylvester), we had former and current board members, funders, and many, many well-wishes that came by phone and online. We also had 100 students, some of whom were in programs more than 10 years ago. These students made it through high school – for better or worse – and are continuing to map the pathways of their lives.
Elsa Rodriguez, Project Exploration alumna and staff member with some of her Sisters4Science.
I saw Paige Preston, who I first met when she was six and tore up the office while her older sister, Lauren, interviewed for the original 2000 Junior Paleontologist program. Paige is putting herself through school in Carbondale to become a vet – while raising two children and struggling with some pretty serious medical issues. I got to visit with Dantawn Nicholson, who I see frequently –every time he comes home from Villanova, where he’s studying sustainable engineering. In fact, Dantawn and I had a really dynamic conversation about the political state of the country and immigration issues with Kit Cabello, who, after completing two tours in Iraq as a marine, returned to Chicago to pursue his passion for public policy and Arabic. Elena Schroeder was in fine form, telling a story about how her experiences with the public as a Dinosaur Giant in 2000 came to bear on her PhD oral examinations. Kris Leja came – one of our first Sereno Dinosaur Expedition field hands. Kris is about to complete his pharmacy program at Chicago State. Tanya James phoned in from Texas; Antonio and Michael Ramirez and Jehad, as well as our very own – biggest smile in the world – Tommie Collins – also came with tales of what it’s like to be in college and to figure out what they want to do. Alora, who is running her own beauty shop was there with her sister Ariel and friends and family in tow; Jessica Fraghia splits her time as a museum docent with pursuing her dream of getting certified as a special education teacher…. The list could go on and on.
The gathering let us think about students we hadn’t seen for a while – Edna, our scientific illustrator, Marco and Cesar Mendez, Shuriece, Andres, Ryan Mulvaney, Justin. We called Ryan Harper (JP 1999!) and he picked up the phone!
Melissa gives Jasmine and Michael (left) a taste for chocolate "R+D" (research and development.)
The students told stories about memories and events that mattered to them – and as I scanned that room those 100+ faces in the standing-room-only scene, who are just a fraction of the hundreds and hundreds young people who have shared their lives with us, I was overwhelmed.
That gathering in the Jensen Room at the Garfield Park Conservatory was so different from any science gathering or education conference I’d ever been to. Rather than a room mostly filled with people who were white, or male, or students who excelled academically, it was filled with brown faces, some with crazy-colored hair, some with piercings in their ears, noses and toungues. Some had tattoos. Some were with their moms and sisters, some were with their boyfriends and girl friends. Some were with their own children. Some of them were going to be scientists and some were not. Some had barely graduated high school, some had GEDs, some had dropped out of college to return, some were working, some were pursuing graduate work at the most elite institutions in the country. All of them had spent an entire day immersed in science – and with each other.
Because of project Exploration’s very particular approach – we believe that learning is based on relationships, that we need to get students together with curiosity-brimming scientists whether or not they’re planning to be scientists, and that we need to be in it with our young people for the long haul – we are changing the face of science.
But it’s more than that: We’re putting science to work in the service of students. These students’ stories –their real life stories, help us realize that if we keep doing what we do well we’re not just going to change the face of science, we’re going to change the story of science. In the process we don’t just change our students’ lives, we change our own lives as well.
I hope you can help. If you’d like to make a donation before the year is out, go for it! There’s still time. Just click HERE.
(When you visit the page be sure to check out Tommie Collins telling his own Project Exploration story!)
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