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X-RAY RUNS: Apply for Beamtime

2017  Nov 1 - Dec 21

2018  Feb 7 - Apr 3
2018  Proposal/BTR deadline: 12/1/17

2018  Apr 11 - Jun 4
2018  Proposal/BTR deadline: 2/1/18

As part of Xraise’s initiative to provide high school teachers and educators with state of the art technology to use in their classroom, the outreach group has acquired two Bruker handheld x-ray fluorescence (XRF) devices for their Lending Library program. Through this program, high school teachers can borrow laboratory equipment to use in their science classes free of charge, for up to a week: “The goal of this initiative is to give high school teachers access to technology similar to that used in the CHESS research facility," states Lora Hine, director of Education and Outreach at CLASSE.

On July 12th, Xraise hosted a teacher workshop led by Bruker Elemental scientist, Dr. Bruce Kaiser. Throughout the workshop Dr. Kaiser trained staff, graduate students and teachers on how to use the devices as well as the many applications and investigations that can be carried out through the use of the XRF devices. Over 20 teachers from all over New York State attended, as well as scientists from Brookhaven National Laboratory, CHESS graduate student David Agyeman-Budu and a high school science teacher from Puerto Rico Shirley Martinez who we met through CHESS research scientists Carlos Cabrera.

Currently, Xraise is in the process of acquiring a New York State permit for the devices so that we are able to ship it to different schools within the state. Teachers will be required to attend a proper training at Cornell on how to use the XRF device.

Xraise is also working with two high school teachers from the workshop, Walter Peck from Whitney Point High School and Vincent Pereira, from Freeport Public School in Long Island, in developing a chemistry lesson plan analyzing different concentrations of Ferric and Ferrous Chloride with the XRF device.

 Dr. Kaiser with Puerto Rican science teacher Shirley Martinez, looking at the spectral analysis of rocks collected outside of the facility.

 

Submitted by: Eva Luna, CHESS, Cornell University
08/14/2017