Two science educators from Earl L. Vandermeulen High School, Amanda Perovich and Melissa Garcia, recently took part in the highly anticipated Science Education Day at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), an event designed to provide K-12 educators with cutting-edge scientific research and teaching strategies.

The event, which took place on November 5, 2024, brought together science teachers from across the region for a professional development workshop focused on incorporating current research topics into classroom curricula. This year’s theme celebrated the 10th anniversary of the National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II), a state-of-the-art facility at BNL that has revolutionized materials science research.

During the workshop, educators such as Perovich and Garcia engaged in a series of hands-on activities focused on Physical Science, learning about the physics behind NSLS-II and exploring topics such as properties of matter, types of light, and accelerator science. Teachers were shown how these complex concepts can be effectively communicated to students at various grade levels, from elementary through high school.

“It was a great day to nerd out and focus on science and all the amazing research being done at this facility and to also work on how to apply it in our classrooms,” said Ms. Perovich. “Seeing a large NSLS-II in action and exploring nanoparticles is something you would think you would only see on the set of The Big Bang Theory, to explore it in real life was a dream come true!”

In addition to the hands-on labs, participants also learned about opportunities to collaborate with BNL and integrate its resources into their teaching. BNL staff provided valuable insights on how to bring real-world scientific applications into the classroom, helping teachers engage their students in the wonders of physical science. For Perovich and Garcia, the event highlighted the importance of connecting classroom learning with cutting-edge research to inspire the next generation of scientists and innovators.