I see the challenge as things we can do as the climate is changing. Our team talked about local climate and things like watering grass. We also talked about polar bears becoming extinct because their Artic ice packs are melting and they are drowning and starving to death. No matter the political debate about the cause, the fact of warming is not contested in the scientific community. The challenge is "what can we do about it"? Certainly these are complex questions, the solutions of which will require our children to be educated on science and technology; one of the primary aims of the FIRST project! And just as importantly, open discussion of the issues and the science behind them is a plus; I applaud the FIRST organization for choosing the topic. -- Randy Fairfield Court Eaglebots No trees were destroyed in the sending of this message. We do concede, however, that a significant number of electrons may have been inconvenienced. -----Original Message----- From: Donna L. Cornwell <[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask] Sent: Sat, 20 Sep 2008 1:20 pm Subject: Re: [VADCFLL-L] Project Dilemma When I first looked at the project I assumed it that the children were to look at how to reverse global warming. After reading your email, I went back and looked at the description again. It says "how climate affects your community." It distinguishes clima te from weather. It doesn't say climate change. My new personal interpretation is that we look at the local climate -- whether you are in a desert, somewhere with excessively cold winters, etc. For example, in the DC area we have hot dry weather in mid-summer and alot of money is spent watering lawns. A solution might be to look for grasses more suited to the local climate. Is this how others read the problem? Climate not changes in climate seems to be the topic. Donna Cornwell [log in to unmask] Nicholas Duan wrote: > Our team is experiencing some difficulty in identifying the right research topic. This is the dilemma we are facing: > > This year's project is to "Research how climate affects your own community. Identify a problem caused by climate in your area, analyze climate data about the problem, and discover what your community is doing about it". So the assumption made here is that the climate change is already taking place and we need to find some solution to adopt it, rather than some ways to combat or change it. So the problems to be identified would be some damages caused by the climate (like drought or flood), not some thing that may cause climate changes. So any topic that deals with CO2 and global warming would be out of scope. > > Another issue is that after analyzing the local weather data for the past 30 years,=2 0we found none variation of climate conditions at all. It is hard (if not impossible) statistically to correlate local weather with flood or drought. In another words, it is very difficult to establish any scientific evidence that the natural disasters were caused by climate changes. Even the scientists couldn't agree among themselves on the right causes. So the "Connection" part may not be there at all. > > I'm not sure if other teams were facing the same problem. Any suggestions to help us back on the right track would be highly appreciated. > > Nick > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Stephanie Ennis <[log in to unmask]> > Date: Monday, September 15, 2008 10:12 am > Subject: Re: [VADCFLL-L] FW: FLL in Virginia Area > > >> Does anyone know the date of the tournament in November in >> Stafford, VA? >> >> Thank you >> >> Stephanie M. Ennis, Science Department Head >> Battlefield Middle School >> 11120 Leavells Road >> Fredericksburg, VA 22407 >> 540-786-4400 ext. 2104 >> [log in to unmask] >> >> "There is no better high than discovery." >> -E.O. Wilson >> >> "Teaching should be such that what is offered >> is perceived as a valuable gift and not a hard duty." >> -Albert Einstein >> >> >>>>> On 9/10/2008 at 1:51 PM, in message >>>>> >> <37BDD2FAF2AEAE459C [log in to unmask]> , "Gatuku, Pankaja [USA]" <[log in to unmask]> wrote: >> Hi!, >> >> My son Shreyas is 11yrs old in 6th Grade studying in Eagle Ridge >> MiddleSchool located in Ashburn, VA. My phone number is 571-334- >> 6311. >> >> Do you have any openings in any existing team that he can join for the >> upcoming league. >> >> Thanks, >> Pankaja >> >> >> >> >>>> ---------------------------------------------------------------- >>>> >> ----- >> >>>> - >>>> -- >>>> *From:* Swayne, Nick [mailto:[log in to unmask]] >>>> *Sent:* Wednesday, September 10, 2008 9:06 AM >>>> *To:* Gatuku, Pankaja [USA] >>>> *Cc:* Grove, Ralph F. >>>> *Subject:* RE: FLL in Virginia Area >>>> >>>> Pankaja, >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Thanks for the note. There are a lot of dynamics that go into >>>> forming >>>> >>>> >>> >>> >>>> teams so it is sometimes difficult to join an existing team. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Truly the best way if for you to organize a team in your >>>> >> neighborhood >> >>>> or contact your son's school to see if they have a school >>>> >> sponsored >> >>>> team. The next best option is to send a note out to the VA-DC >>>> >> FLL >> >>>> list-serve with your general geographic area and contact info. >>>> >> All >> >>>> th e Virginia coaches and tournament directors are on the list- >>>> >> serve.>> If they have an opening they'll contact you. >> >>>> >>>> You can get on the list-serve by contacting Ralph Grove at >>>> [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Nick >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> *From:* Gatuku, Pankaja [USA] [mailto:[log in to unmask]] >>>> *Sent:* Tuesday, September 09, 2008 5:23 PM >>>> *To:* Swayne, Nick >>>> *Subject:* FLL in Virginia Area >>>> *Importance:* High >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Hi!, I am interested in enrolling my son who is 11 years old in >>>> >> the >> >>>> FLL he is very much interested in lego's always designs complex >>>> vehicles and structures, can you please send me more >>>> >> information on >> >>>> how to register or will he has to attend any classes in >>>> >> Virginia area >> >> >>>> before he joins FLL. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> I saw on this website at: >>>> http://firstlegoleague.org/community/fll/schedule.aspx that >>>> >> there is >> >>>> chance still for registration if the slots are not filled by >>>> >> mid >> >>>> September. Can you please send me more information. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Thanks, >>>> >>>> *Pankaja Gatuku* >>>> >>>> ----------------------------------------------------------------A 0 >>>> >> ----- >> >>>> - >>>> -- >>>> >>>> Booz | Allen | Hamilton >>>> Information Services >>>> +1-703-984-1669 >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>> -- >>> Ralph F. Grove Jr., Ph.D., Associate Professor, Graduate >>> >> Coordinator >> >>> James Madison University Department of Computer Science >>> [log in to unmask] >>> 540/568-6288 http://grove.cs.jmu.edu >>> >>> >>> >>> >> -- >> Ralph F. Grove Jr., Ph.D., Associate Professor, Graduate Coordinator >> James Madison University Department of Computer Science >> [log in to unmask] >> 540/568-6288 http://grove.cs.jmu.edu >> >> ______________________________________________________________ >> To UNSUBSCRIBE or CHANGE YOUR SETTINGS, please visit >> https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-l.html and select "Join >> or leave the list". >> >> If you want to join the VADCFLL-ADMIN-L mailing list - to which >> FLL administrative announcements will be distributed - visit >> https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-admin-l.html and select >> "Join or leave the list". >> >> ______________________________________________________________ >> To UNSUBSCRIBE or CHANGE YOUR SETTINGS, please visit >> https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-l.html and select "Join >> or leave the list". >> >> If you want to join the VADCFLL-ADMIN-L mailing list - to which >> FLL administrative announcements will be distributed - visit >> https://listserv .jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-admin-l.html and select >> "Join or leave the list". >> >> >> >> >> >> > > ______________________________________________________________ > To UNSUBSCRIBE or CHANGE YOUR SETTINGS, please visit https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-l.html and select "Join or leave the list". > > If you want to join the VADCFLL-ADMIN-L mailing list - to which FLL administrative announcements will be distributed - visit https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-admin-l.html and select "Join or leave the list". > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------- > Text inserted by Panda IS 2008: > > This message has NOT been classified as spam. If it is unsolicited mail (spam), click on the following link to reclassify it: http://localhost:6083/Panda?ID=pav_18927&SPAM=true&path=C:\Documents%20and%20Settings\Donna\Local%20Settings\Application%20Data\Panda%20Software\AntiSpam > ------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------- > > > ______________________________________________________________ To UNSUBSCRIBE or CHANGE YOUR SETTINGS, please visit https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-l.html and select "Join or leave the list". If you want to join the VADCFLL-ADMIN-L mailing list - to which FLL administrative announcements will be distributed - visit https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-admin-l.html and se lect "Join or leave the list". ______________________________________________________________ To UNSUBSCRIBE or CHANGE YOUR SETTINGS, please visit https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-l.html and select "Join or leave the list". If you want to join the VADCFLL-ADMIN-L mailing list - to which FLL administrative announcements will be distributed - visit https://listserv.jmu.edu/archives/vadcfll-admin-l.html and select "Join or leave the list".