Past Events
See what Grassroots members are doing in North Carolina and elsewhere.
See what Grassroots members are doing in North Carolina and elsewhere.
Thurdsay, August 10 2006
Beijing Association of Science and Technology members visit
Greensboro Children's Museum
Greensboro Children's Museum
Tim Goetz, Executive Director Greensboro Children's Museum
demonstrates one of the exhibits for the Beijing group.
demonstrates one of the exhibits for the Beijing group.
Tim Goetz, accepts a gift from the Chinese visitors at the end of
the tour.
the tour.
Port Discover, Our newest museum opened this May!
see photos and writeup on their Website
see photos and writeup on their Website
The Grassroots Collaborative sponsored the first American
students ever to participate in the 2006 Beijing Youth Science
Creation Competition (BYSCC). This was possible due to the
generous support of the North Carolina Science Mathematics and
Technology Education Center.
The BYSCC invites foreign delegations to share their science
projects alongside Chinese students. This year, other countries
included Denmark, Australia, Italy and New Zealand. The United
States delegation was composed of the following members:
students ever to participate in the 2006 Beijing Youth Science
Creation Competition (BYSCC). This was possible due to the
generous support of the North Carolina Science Mathematics and
Technology Education Center.
The BYSCC invites foreign delegations to share their science
projects alongside Chinese students. This year, other countries
included Denmark, Australia, Italy and New Zealand. The United
States delegation was composed of the following members:
Name Representing
Justin Crowder Northwest High School, Greensboro, NC
Sam Wells Northwest High School, Greensboro, NC
Drew Rowland Asheville High School, Asheville, NC
Dr. Fran Nolan Grassroots Science Museums Collaborative
Robin Bergeron-Nolan Guilford County Schools
Rice Strange Guilford County Schools
Senator Kay Hagan North Carolina General Assembly
Jeanette Hagan University of California at Santa Barbara
Dr. Nancy Sung Burroughs Welcome Fund
Bill Tucci Kenan Institute
Dr. John Hardin North Carolina Board of Science and Technology
Dr. Rick Basom Partnership for Dynamic Learning
Justin Crowder Northwest High School, Greensboro, NC
Sam Wells Northwest High School, Greensboro, NC
Drew Rowland Asheville High School, Asheville, NC
Dr. Fran Nolan Grassroots Science Museums Collaborative
Robin Bergeron-Nolan Guilford County Schools
Rice Strange Guilford County Schools
Senator Kay Hagan North Carolina General Assembly
Jeanette Hagan University of California at Santa Barbara
Dr. Nancy Sung Burroughs Welcome Fund
Bill Tucci Kenan Institute
Dr. John Hardin North Carolina Board of Science and Technology
Dr. Rick Basom Partnership for Dynamic Learning
Along with being an excellent scientific and cultural exchange, this experience allowed North Carolina science leaders to witness
the scope and energy directed toward science education in Beijing.
During the weeklong event, Northwest High School (Guilford County) teacher Rice Strange recorded the following blogs.
the scope and energy directed toward science education in Beijing.
During the weeklong event, Northwest High School (Guilford County) teacher Rice Strange recorded the following blogs.
Grassroots Science Collaberative takes off for Beijing
China!
Stay tuned for daily updates during this exciting trip.
Tuesday, 7:00 PM
Students. Justin Crowder, Sam Wells and Drew Rowland
departed Newark International airport on Continental Airlines flight
89 at 12:11 PM (EST) along with Adults Senator Kay Hagan,
Jeanette. Hagan, Bill Tucci, John Hardin, Rice. Strange, Nancy
Sung, Fran Nolan, Robin Nolan and Rick Basom. At 7:00 PM
their aircraft was over the Northern Pacific Ocean with an
expected arrival in Beijing at 2:17 PM .(local Beijing time)
China!
Stay tuned for daily updates during this exciting trip.
Tuesday, 7:00 PM
Students. Justin Crowder, Sam Wells and Drew Rowland
departed Newark International airport on Continental Airlines flight
89 at 12:11 PM (EST) along with Adults Senator Kay Hagan,
Jeanette. Hagan, Bill Tucci, John Hardin, Rice. Strange, Nancy
Sung, Fran Nolan, Robin Nolan and Rick Basom. At 7:00 PM
their aircraft was over the Northern Pacific Ocean with an
expected arrival in Beijing at 2:17 PM .(local Beijing time)
From the Northwest High School online diary...
Greetings from Beijing. Please forgive that information on the website is slow in coming and that the pictures have no descriptions.
Our internet access is very limited here so I’m sending emails with attachments that Natalie Reid is graciously posting to the site for
us.
We arrived yesterday around 3 PM and after passing through customs were greeted by Li Hong. She is a program director for BAST
that has largely made our visit to China possible. The city, big beyond measure, is home to some 20 million people, roughly twice the
population of NC.
There is a certain amount of beauty, elegance, chaos, and danger involved in having all these people in the same place. Every
person I’ve ever heard speak of international travel will tell crazy stories about the traffic and how the US is both safe and boring by
comparison. Not 60 seconds after we were warned to watch for traffic (we assumed that meant on the streets), two cars and a bus
come cruising down the airport sidewalk. I do love people that think out of the box. Then we were greeted by locals grabbing our
luggage so they could carry it to the bus, which at this point was some 8 feet away. Our first lesson in people working the street was
complete when they turned to us, rubbing their fingers together, with a clear international symbol for “pay me”.
Only in the last 5 and 10 years have many people here acquired cars. With such a huge explosion comes the need for more roads to
handle what used to be bicycle riders. As crazy as the sidewalk experience was, there’s no Busch Gardens ride capable of preparing
you for the freeway. I’ll leave that topic with “wow” and move on the other things.
Our hotel is very western in most respects. We might advise others not to check into your room and grab some big air for a “hotel
hop” onto the bed. At best you would only suffer a mild concussion. If you can imagine a coffee table, 4 feet by 6 feet, with a sheet on
the top of it … that’s pretty close to what we’re sleeping on. Western toilets exist in most of the places we are visiting. They tell us you
would otherwise be greeted by a hole in the floor.
Our first dinner was a wonderful exercise in discovery. Dishes are delivered to the table where they are placed on a lazy Susan.
When the lazy Susan can no longer hold any dishes the servers exchange older dishes for something new to try. Dishes that come to
mind (we’re now 30 minutes from another dinner so I may have more to report later): A boiled cabbage and celery along with deer
ribs, octopus, beef, fish, and pork. One dish was some type of intestine but we never learned what critter it belonged to. Also on the
table: a bread that very much resembles dinner rolls except they are steamed, a dumpling like dish stuff with pork, steamed rice, and
hot tea. During breakfast this morning one of the folks in our delegation requested coffee for our table. We never fully understood
what two chemicals were separating in to pitcher but we drank it all regardless. If you see a picture with layered brown liquids, that’s
the java.
Our main highlight today was a journey to the Ming tombs. There are 13 tombs spread throughout the area, and while we saw only
two of them the richness of tradition and respect for their history is very clear.
Later this afternoon the guys got their displays set up for the event. The opening ceremony is at 1:00 PM tomorrow. During the
setting up process we had a chance to wander among the other science competitors. Some of their research and development ideas
were simply amazing. I’ll try posting up some pics of other projects soon.
More soon. We miss you all.
Our internet access is very limited here so I’m sending emails with attachments that Natalie Reid is graciously posting to the site for
us.
We arrived yesterday around 3 PM and after passing through customs were greeted by Li Hong. She is a program director for BAST
that has largely made our visit to China possible. The city, big beyond measure, is home to some 20 million people, roughly twice the
population of NC.
There is a certain amount of beauty, elegance, chaos, and danger involved in having all these people in the same place. Every
person I’ve ever heard speak of international travel will tell crazy stories about the traffic and how the US is both safe and boring by
comparison. Not 60 seconds after we were warned to watch for traffic (we assumed that meant on the streets), two cars and a bus
come cruising down the airport sidewalk. I do love people that think out of the box. Then we were greeted by locals grabbing our
luggage so they could carry it to the bus, which at this point was some 8 feet away. Our first lesson in people working the street was
complete when they turned to us, rubbing their fingers together, with a clear international symbol for “pay me”.
Only in the last 5 and 10 years have many people here acquired cars. With such a huge explosion comes the need for more roads to
handle what used to be bicycle riders. As crazy as the sidewalk experience was, there’s no Busch Gardens ride capable of preparing
you for the freeway. I’ll leave that topic with “wow” and move on the other things.
Our hotel is very western in most respects. We might advise others not to check into your room and grab some big air for a “hotel
hop” onto the bed. At best you would only suffer a mild concussion. If you can imagine a coffee table, 4 feet by 6 feet, with a sheet on
the top of it … that’s pretty close to what we’re sleeping on. Western toilets exist in most of the places we are visiting. They tell us you
would otherwise be greeted by a hole in the floor.
Our first dinner was a wonderful exercise in discovery. Dishes are delivered to the table where they are placed on a lazy Susan.
When the lazy Susan can no longer hold any dishes the servers exchange older dishes for something new to try. Dishes that come to
mind (we’re now 30 minutes from another dinner so I may have more to report later): A boiled cabbage and celery along with deer
ribs, octopus, beef, fish, and pork. One dish was some type of intestine but we never learned what critter it belonged to. Also on the
table: a bread that very much resembles dinner rolls except they are steamed, a dumpling like dish stuff with pork, steamed rice, and
hot tea. During breakfast this morning one of the folks in our delegation requested coffee for our table. We never fully understood
what two chemicals were separating in to pitcher but we drank it all regardless. If you see a picture with layered brown liquids, that’s
the java.
Our main highlight today was a journey to the Ming tombs. There are 13 tombs spread throughout the area, and while we saw only
two of them the richness of tradition and respect for their history is very clear.
Later this afternoon the guys got their displays set up for the event. The opening ceremony is at 1:00 PM tomorrow. During the
setting up process we had a chance to wander among the other science competitors. Some of their research and development ideas
were simply amazing. I’ll try posting up some pics of other projects soon.
More soon. We miss you all.
Hello again to our friends and family in America. Day 3 is winding down. Dinner, a formal banquet you will see in some of the pics,
recently concluded with the exchanging of gifts … a very rich and serious tradition with the Chinese culture. In order to not give too
much away I thought I would pose some fun trivia to the biology teachers. Drew, Justin, and Sam are in one picture with a gentleman
and a gold coin while at dinner. His research might be an interesting moment of chat once you can identify who it is.
Our day began with a trip to one of the natural museums in downtown Beijing. We were only a couple blocks from the Forbidden City
but it and the surrounding highlights are scheduled for later in the week, I believe. There are also some attractions the city is closing
down to tourists so they can go through preparations for the 2008 Olympics.
The large agenda item today was the opening ceremony of the science competition. The ceremony is an enormous event with
dignitaries and honored guests taking part throughout the day. The students then went to their respective projects as the honored
guests circulated and tried to take it all in. Beijing is divided into something like 15 districts with each district sending a delegation of
students to the competition in addition to the international guests. Total there are (I’m guessing here) about 150 – 200 projects.
Every chance I get when visiting a new city I will make way to whatever science museum is available. Houston, Chicago, San Diego,
and even Washington DC would have a hard time holding up to what these students have produced. I’ve never wished more that I
could have had all my students with me to see what things the mind is capable of (I can hear the voices from here … “field trip”). I
say yes … but that means entering the competition next year.
Enjoy the pictures and remember we will be home soon.
rgs – March 24, 2006
recently concluded with the exchanging of gifts … a very rich and serious tradition with the Chinese culture. In order to not give too
much away I thought I would pose some fun trivia to the biology teachers. Drew, Justin, and Sam are in one picture with a gentleman
and a gold coin while at dinner. His research might be an interesting moment of chat once you can identify who it is.
Our day began with a trip to one of the natural museums in downtown Beijing. We were only a couple blocks from the Forbidden City
but it and the surrounding highlights are scheduled for later in the week, I believe. There are also some attractions the city is closing
down to tourists so they can go through preparations for the 2008 Olympics.
The large agenda item today was the opening ceremony of the science competition. The ceremony is an enormous event with
dignitaries and honored guests taking part throughout the day. The students then went to their respective projects as the honored
guests circulated and tried to take it all in. Beijing is divided into something like 15 districts with each district sending a delegation of
students to the competition in addition to the international guests. Total there are (I’m guessing here) about 150 – 200 projects.
Every chance I get when visiting a new city I will make way to whatever science museum is available. Houston, Chicago, San Diego,
and even Washington DC would have a hard time holding up to what these students have produced. I’ve never wished more that I
could have had all my students with me to see what things the mind is capable of (I can hear the voices from here … “field trip”). I
say yes … but that means entering the competition next year.
Enjoy the pictures and remember we will be home soon.
rgs – March 24, 2006
On day 4 the main agenda item is displaying of the student projects. Drew, Justin, and Sam largely stayed with their presentations
along with an interpreter to answer questions and explain their research to visitors. This gave me a chance to wander through the
other projects and learn, through my translator, what students researched. The significance of some of the research I’ve been able
to see is breathtaking. So far I’ve only seen about a third of the total projects.
While it’s easy for me to say the education system in China is different than in America, it’s also possible to identify a powerful
element China students have access to that students in the US don’t. The best and most powerful presentations all had a common
theme of students working alongside researchers at universities. Their work and the things they learned came from doing real
science with real scientists. I don’t wish to preach myself out of a job by saying teachers aren’t necessary, but it’s clear American
students need more opportunities than what we provide. Sadly, America is not lacking in ways to make this happen. We have the
best researchers and the best universities that could make such an opportunity real.
One additional theme that became clear is students in China live and struggle with many of the same issues our kids have. There
was an entire spectrum of topics ranging from violence in schools to questions about internet use to bad cafeteria food researched in
one form or another. Granted, there are fundamental differences in our cultures that make apple-to-apple comparisons difficult, but
in the heart of these children are the same visions and dreams our kids have.
Meanwhile, the American guys are becoming ever more popular each day. I’m not exactly sure how it happened even though I was
present for most of the conversation, but Sam’s attempt to explain to some China students that he had applied to Duke University,
was hoping to get accepted, and that he enjoyed basketball, got turned into “here is a famous American that may play in the NBA
after he is finishes playing basketball at Duke and that he might even get to play in the Olympics since the Duke basketball coach is
leading the US Olympic team”. Strangely, there are many more people asking to have their picture taken with Sam than with any of
the rest of us. Go figure.
Peace to all of us.
along with an interpreter to answer questions and explain their research to visitors. This gave me a chance to wander through the
other projects and learn, through my translator, what students researched. The significance of some of the research I’ve been able
to see is breathtaking. So far I’ve only seen about a third of the total projects.
While it’s easy for me to say the education system in China is different than in America, it’s also possible to identify a powerful
element China students have access to that students in the US don’t. The best and most powerful presentations all had a common
theme of students working alongside researchers at universities. Their work and the things they learned came from doing real
science with real scientists. I don’t wish to preach myself out of a job by saying teachers aren’t necessary, but it’s clear American
students need more opportunities than what we provide. Sadly, America is not lacking in ways to make this happen. We have the
best researchers and the best universities that could make such an opportunity real.
One additional theme that became clear is students in China live and struggle with many of the same issues our kids have. There
was an entire spectrum of topics ranging from violence in schools to questions about internet use to bad cafeteria food researched in
one form or another. Granted, there are fundamental differences in our cultures that make apple-to-apple comparisons difficult, but
in the heart of these children are the same visions and dreams our kids have.
Meanwhile, the American guys are becoming ever more popular each day. I’m not exactly sure how it happened even though I was
present for most of the conversation, but Sam’s attempt to explain to some China students that he had applied to Duke University,
was hoping to get accepted, and that he enjoyed basketball, got turned into “here is a famous American that may play in the NBA
after he is finishes playing basketball at Duke and that he might even get to play in the Olympics since the Duke basketball coach is
leading the US Olympic team”. Strangely, there are many more people asking to have their picture taken with Sam than with any of
the rest of us. Go figure.
Peace to all of us.
Tuesday, March 21, 7:00 PM EST
North Carolina Grassroots Science Museums Collaborative Dr. Fran Nolan, Executive Director c/o North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences 11 West Jones Street Raleigh, North Carolina 27601-1029 919.733.7450 Extension 260 |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
Day 4 photos and commentary
Visitors from the Beijing Association of Science and Technology
take a pause in the tour for a group photo.
take a pause in the tour for a group photo.
Pingghu District of Beijing, Peoples Republic of China
3/24/07
Fran Nolan
Four days ago, eleven members of the American delegation to the Beijing Youth Science Creation Competition, departed North
Carolina: destination Beijing China. Our marathon plane flight flew Northeast, over the Greenland ice sheet, very close to the North
Pole, over Siberia and Mongolia and finally landed in hazy Beijing. After sorting through the fatigue and some initial difficulties, we all
made it to a Northeast district of Beijing called Pingghu. It has mountains and even some skiing facilities. It is called “rural” by our
hosts but, by North Carolina standards, it is quite urban. Yesterday, we did venture through a countryside filled with peach orchards
to visit a wonderful school that emphasizes science. The first activity we witnessed was with a freshman class of students all armed
with directional radio receivers. They were locating emission sources placed about their soccer field. We toured a number of
science and art classes. I must admit that it was a strange experience to visit the school-top observatory. The students were quite
proud of their telescopes, even though the smog prevents them from seeing very much. Even the nearby mountains were difficult to
decipher.
The lavish opening ceremony was yesterday afternoon. Beforehand I was honored, along with the heads of the other foreign
delegations, to meet top level officials from: the Beijing Association of Science and Technology, the Beijing government and the
Beijing Communist Party. They gave us beautiful, limited edition presents: leather cases with medals displaying all the mascots of
the 2008 Summer Olympics.
A rain sprinkle moved through yesterday and cleared out some of the haze. Today, as all days, is very busy. After an early
breakfast, we squeezed in a short practice of the Electric Slide for tonight’s Multicultural Party. We are now in the exhibit hall where
the science is displayed and a throng of visitors asks questions of the student researchers. Many countries are represented
including: China, the United States, New Zealand, Australia, Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Denmark and the Ukraine. It is a great
international experience for all of us, adults and students alike. It is also a very substantive scientific exercise. There are many,
excellent projects from all the countries. Our four U.S. (North Carolina) students are doing a great job both as scientists and as
American ambassadors.
Our Chinese friends are excellent hosts. Three multilingual college students work as our full-time .personal aides. James, Simon
and Chris take on western names to make things easier for us. After tomorrow’s closing ceremony, they will lead us to some of the
great cultural destinations of China.
Andy Bernard
As the actual date of this trip to Beijing China came close, it seemed very unreal. We set off from PTI airport and headed north, north
to the point that we passed over the North Pole. Being the first time that I have actually ever flown over this part of the world, it was
an amazing experience for me. The part that was most amazing for me was that I could actually see the ice flow cracks from over
thirty-five thousand feet and still the cracks seemed to take up most of the window. This just went to show me that the cracks were
enormous! It was just a shame that the flight took about thirteen hours.
Upon arrival we were overwhelmed with an amazing greeting of Chinese faces staring at us with interest. The rest of that day wasn’t
too awfully interesting but we did try the Chinese food and took a big helping of their culture. On the second day we attended the
BAST welcome and spent our first day in this country. I have to say that these people are some of the nicest people that I have ever
encountered and have begun to take like them very much. On the third day we visited a middle school in the Ping Gu district that had
the greatest observatory of any school I have seen in the United States.
With the third day here, we were expected to dress more formally since this was the day of the opening ceremony and also the first
time we would display our work to the students of Beijing. The first exhibition was interesting and seemed to last forever but was very
gratifying. All our work had finally paid off in real life application.
Finally on to the fourth and final day we are here again attending our exhibition for nearly six hours and we are furthering our
knowledge of foreign culture. What a wonderful experience this has been and will only get better as we visit the Great Wall and also
as we visit the silk market.
Sarah Schach
Well, I have been in Beijing, China for about three and a half days but I have no idea what the date is. The journey was long and
tiring but the time change has confused me on the date. Today, whatever the date is, is beautiful day. Today is the first day we
have seen blue skies. All the other days have been gloomy with the smog and clouds.
The food has been pretty good but defiantly a culture shock. I have learned to stick with food that looks like something in the USA
and I have eaten a lot of rice.
The activities that are planned are fun although you have to keep in mind that the Chinese people want you to see the best they
have to offer. The school we went to had things I couldn’t imagine having in my school, like telescopes and supplies for art classes
that you would not imagine at a middle school. After the middle school we went to the exhibition hall to represent the USA and our
projects at the BYSCC. People surrounded our projects with cameras taking pictures of us because we looked so different. We
stood in front of our projects not answering questions about our research but requesting our pictures and signatures. We were
presented with the same situation today although today was much more intense and we had to rely on our translators to help with the
situation.
Everything about this trip has been a huge culture shock and makes me realize how much I don’t know about the world. I am so
excited about participating in the trip with everyone. I am excited to see the new things that happen in the days to come.
3/24/07
Fran Nolan
Four days ago, eleven members of the American delegation to the Beijing Youth Science Creation Competition, departed North
Carolina: destination Beijing China. Our marathon plane flight flew Northeast, over the Greenland ice sheet, very close to the North
Pole, over Siberia and Mongolia and finally landed in hazy Beijing. After sorting through the fatigue and some initial difficulties, we all
made it to a Northeast district of Beijing called Pingghu. It has mountains and even some skiing facilities. It is called “rural” by our
hosts but, by North Carolina standards, it is quite urban. Yesterday, we did venture through a countryside filled with peach orchards
to visit a wonderful school that emphasizes science. The first activity we witnessed was with a freshman class of students all armed
with directional radio receivers. They were locating emission sources placed about their soccer field. We toured a number of
science and art classes. I must admit that it was a strange experience to visit the school-top observatory. The students were quite
proud of their telescopes, even though the smog prevents them from seeing very much. Even the nearby mountains were difficult to
decipher.
The lavish opening ceremony was yesterday afternoon. Beforehand I was honored, along with the heads of the other foreign
delegations, to meet top level officials from: the Beijing Association of Science and Technology, the Beijing government and the
Beijing Communist Party. They gave us beautiful, limited edition presents: leather cases with medals displaying all the mascots of
the 2008 Summer Olympics.
A rain sprinkle moved through yesterday and cleared out some of the haze. Today, as all days, is very busy. After an early
breakfast, we squeezed in a short practice of the Electric Slide for tonight’s Multicultural Party. We are now in the exhibit hall where
the science is displayed and a throng of visitors asks questions of the student researchers. Many countries are represented
including: China, the United States, New Zealand, Australia, Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Denmark and the Ukraine. It is a great
international experience for all of us, adults and students alike. It is also a very substantive scientific exercise. There are many,
excellent projects from all the countries. Our four U.S. (North Carolina) students are doing a great job both as scientists and as
American ambassadors.
Our Chinese friends are excellent hosts. Three multilingual college students work as our full-time .personal aides. James, Simon
and Chris take on western names to make things easier for us. After tomorrow’s closing ceremony, they will lead us to some of the
great cultural destinations of China.
Andy Bernard
As the actual date of this trip to Beijing China came close, it seemed very unreal. We set off from PTI airport and headed north, north
to the point that we passed over the North Pole. Being the first time that I have actually ever flown over this part of the world, it was
an amazing experience for me. The part that was most amazing for me was that I could actually see the ice flow cracks from over
thirty-five thousand feet and still the cracks seemed to take up most of the window. This just went to show me that the cracks were
enormous! It was just a shame that the flight took about thirteen hours.
Upon arrival we were overwhelmed with an amazing greeting of Chinese faces staring at us with interest. The rest of that day wasn’t
too awfully interesting but we did try the Chinese food and took a big helping of their culture. On the second day we attended the
BAST welcome and spent our first day in this country. I have to say that these people are some of the nicest people that I have ever
encountered and have begun to take like them very much. On the third day we visited a middle school in the Ping Gu district that had
the greatest observatory of any school I have seen in the United States.
With the third day here, we were expected to dress more formally since this was the day of the opening ceremony and also the first
time we would display our work to the students of Beijing. The first exhibition was interesting and seemed to last forever but was very
gratifying. All our work had finally paid off in real life application.
Finally on to the fourth and final day we are here again attending our exhibition for nearly six hours and we are furthering our
knowledge of foreign culture. What a wonderful experience this has been and will only get better as we visit the Great Wall and also
as we visit the silk market.
Sarah Schach
Well, I have been in Beijing, China for about three and a half days but I have no idea what the date is. The journey was long and
tiring but the time change has confused me on the date. Today, whatever the date is, is beautiful day. Today is the first day we
have seen blue skies. All the other days have been gloomy with the smog and clouds.
The food has been pretty good but defiantly a culture shock. I have learned to stick with food that looks like something in the USA
and I have eaten a lot of rice.
The activities that are planned are fun although you have to keep in mind that the Chinese people want you to see the best they
have to offer. The school we went to had things I couldn’t imagine having in my school, like telescopes and supplies for art classes
that you would not imagine at a middle school. After the middle school we went to the exhibition hall to represent the USA and our
projects at the BYSCC. People surrounded our projects with cameras taking pictures of us because we looked so different. We
stood in front of our projects not answering questions about our research but requesting our pictures and signatures. We were
presented with the same situation today although today was much more intense and we had to rely on our translators to help with the
situation.
Everything about this trip has been a huge culture shock and makes me realize how much I don’t know about the world. I am so
excited about participating in the trip with everyone. I am excited to see the new things that happen in the days to come.
The trip to China was an exceptional experience. Our hosts at BAST were always anxious to make sure that we were well taken care
of----and they ensured that in spite of our lack of expertise in Mandarin, we always felt that communication was clear. The students
who were our translators never seemed to tire---and the schedule was a busy one.
The projects exhibited by our students were great examples of the value of our new Graduation Project requirement. The research,
product and presentation skills of our 4 North Carolina students were highlights of the trip.
The many similarities our delegation shared with multiple other countries represented in Beijing reaffirmed for me that we are bound
globally by those likenesses----much more than we are separated by our differences. Seeing our students interact easily with
students from countries as diverse as China, New Zealand, South Korea and Malaysia---among others--- was a very positive
experience. The emphasis on "academic exchange" that we heard from our hosts at BAST makes me know we're on the right track
here when we emphasize teamwork---both locally and across the planet. Visiting the middle school in Ping Gu was another highlight
of our time in China.
Tricia Willoughby, Executive Director
North Carolina Business Committee for Education
Office of the Governor
The trip to China presented all of us with what I would consider an immersive experience into the Chinese culture. As we participated
in and observed the Beijing Youth Science Competition, I was struck by the fact that young people are young people—all over the
world! Our wonderful guides were great interpreters of both modern day and historical China. I think that I experienced Beijing at a
level that not many people of the opportunity to experience.
Bev Sanford, Executive Director
SciWorks
The thing that was most enjoyable for me was getting to know each of the
other delegation members and seeing the beauty of China through their
eyes. Sharing experiences such as climbing The Great Wall, walking
around various sites at The Summer Palace and The Forbidden City, and
taking in the spectacular architecture. Also, getting a glimpse of
what's to come as part of the 2008 Olympics. This was a wonderful
opportunity.
Robin Bergeron-Nolan
Director Health services
Guildford County Schools
As I Think about the trip to Beijing I can't help but picture all the
beautiful things that I had a chance to see. The detail in the stone
carvings and the paintings in the Summer Palace and the Forbidden City; just
the thought as I was climbing the Great Wall that each and every stone was
put there by a persons hands. But as I think about these places I remember
all the people I met and the opportunity I had to experience these great
places with them. I will never forget how hard it was to climb the Great
Wall, how beautiful the Summer Palace was, or how amazed I was to think that
someone could live in the Forbidden City.
Sarah Schach
of----and they ensured that in spite of our lack of expertise in Mandarin, we always felt that communication was clear. The students
who were our translators never seemed to tire---and the schedule was a busy one.
The projects exhibited by our students were great examples of the value of our new Graduation Project requirement. The research,
product and presentation skills of our 4 North Carolina students were highlights of the trip.
The many similarities our delegation shared with multiple other countries represented in Beijing reaffirmed for me that we are bound
globally by those likenesses----much more than we are separated by our differences. Seeing our students interact easily with
students from countries as diverse as China, New Zealand, South Korea and Malaysia---among others--- was a very positive
experience. The emphasis on "academic exchange" that we heard from our hosts at BAST makes me know we're on the right track
here when we emphasize teamwork---both locally and across the planet. Visiting the middle school in Ping Gu was another highlight
of our time in China.
Tricia Willoughby, Executive Director
North Carolina Business Committee for Education
Office of the Governor
The trip to China presented all of us with what I would consider an immersive experience into the Chinese culture. As we participated
in and observed the Beijing Youth Science Competition, I was struck by the fact that young people are young people—all over the
world! Our wonderful guides were great interpreters of both modern day and historical China. I think that I experienced Beijing at a
level that not many people of the opportunity to experience.
Bev Sanford, Executive Director
SciWorks
The thing that was most enjoyable for me was getting to know each of the
other delegation members and seeing the beauty of China through their
eyes. Sharing experiences such as climbing The Great Wall, walking
around various sites at The Summer Palace and The Forbidden City, and
taking in the spectacular architecture. Also, getting a glimpse of
what's to come as part of the 2008 Olympics. This was a wonderful
opportunity.
Robin Bergeron-Nolan
Director Health services
Guildford County Schools
As I Think about the trip to Beijing I can't help but picture all the
beautiful things that I had a chance to see. The detail in the stone
carvings and the paintings in the Summer Palace and the Forbidden City; just
the thought as I was climbing the Great Wall that each and every stone was
put there by a persons hands. But as I think about these places I remember
all the people I met and the opportunity I had to experience these great
places with them. I will never forget how hard it was to climb the Great
Wall, how beautiful the Summer Palace was, or how amazed I was to think that
someone could live in the Forbidden City.
Sarah Schach
In August (2007), Beijing Association of Science and Technology
delegates visit The North Carolina General Assembly
delegates visit The North Carolina General Assembly
The Destiny Bus at the Morehead Plaetarium
New outdoor exhibits at the Museum of Life and Science
The Wall of Heavenly Peace BAST 2007