Former astronaut opens galaxy of opportunities to SU campers

Bernard Harris, retired NASA astronaut and first African American to walk in space, shared his outer space experiences, with 48 middle school students during Timbuktu Academy’s Media Day, July 13. The event marked the half waypoint of the ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Summer Science Camp, which ended July 20.

Local middle school students in sixth through eighth grade participated in a daylong media event hosted by Southern University's Timbuktu Academy on Friday, July 13, in the P.B.S. Pinchback High Tech Room.

Bernard Harris, retired NASA astronaut and first African American to walk in space, shared his experiences in outer space with 48 middle schoolers, and close to 100 other community and university program supporters.

Harris, a self described dreamer who believes that nothing is impossible, is also a physician, businessman, professor, and licensed private pilot.

"It is important at this age to figure out who you are and what your natural talents are," said Harris. "We are not producing enough graduates in science," he said adding that middle school is the best time to expose students to STEM careers.

"We can not work forever," said Harris. "We need replacements."

The media event marked the halfway point of the ExxonMobil Benard Harris Summer Science Camp, which ended July 20. The two-week residential program for students in grades six through eight, offered innovative programs and activities designed to enhance students' science, technology, engineering, and mathematics knowledge, all while instilling leadership values needed to be successful in any discipline.

In addition to Harris' many pursuits, he is also the founder of The Harris Foundation, a non-profit organization founded in 1998, that supports programs to empower minorities and economically and/or socially disadvantaged, to recognize their potential and pursue their dreams. Through the Bernard Harris Summer Science Camp and Dare to Dream programs, the Foundation encourages mathematics and science education and urges youth to stay in school. To date, more than 2,500 K-12 students have participated in The Harris Foundation programs.

Joel Deal, former Louis Stokes Louisiana Alliance for Minority Participation scholar and ExxonMobil engineer, also addressed the middle school students.

"You are the future," said Deal. "There are tons of people around you who want to see you succeed."

Deal, a 2004 Southern University mechanical engineering graduate, realized a fondness for mathematics and science as early as eighth grade. Deal credited his interest in mathematics and science to his eighth grade teacher.

Students participating in the ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Summer Science Camp work with Archimedes’ principle of buoyancy and its relationship to density experiment. The students were asked to use four plastic straws and aluminum foil to build a raft that would float on water. Pennies were used to test the strength and durability of the raft.

Other Southern University graduates present were Melvin Briscoe, 1990 charter Timbuktu Academy scholar and engineering graduate and Caroline Mays, Timbuktu Academy Scholar and mechanical engineering graduate. The ExxonMobil Corporation currently employs Deal, Briscoe, and Mays.

Media Day culminated with a science experiment and competition to educate the campers on Archimedes' principle of buoyancy and its relationship to density. The students were separated into eight groups and were asked to use four plastic straws and foil to build a raft that would float on water. Pennies were used to test the strength and durability of the raft. The team whose raft held the most number of pennies won. Team "Titanic" won the competition with 55 pennies in the raft.

Southern University was one of 20 sites selected to host the ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Summer Science Camp. To participate in the camp students must be academically eligible, recommended by their teachers, and show a genuine interest in mathematics and science. Camp activities include science experimentation, individual/team/group projects, field excursions and guest motivational speakers. For more information about The Harris Foundation log on to www.theharrisfoundation.org.

The ExxonMobil Foundation is the primary philanthropic art of the ExxonMobil Corporation in the United States. ExxonMobil supports initiatives to improve mathematics and science education at the K-12 level throughout the U.S. Additional information on ExxonMobil's community outreach programs is available at www.exxonmobil.com/community.

The Timbuktu Academy, established in 1990, has played a fundamental role in the production of quality STEM graduates. The program has been awarded two U.S. Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring and has mentored more than 1,000 pre-college students. For more information on The Timbuktu Academy log on to www.phys.subr.edu/timbuktu.htm.