SPIE Chapter Shines Light on Optics

            Members of Three Rivers SPIE student chapter spent a day at UConn’s Bishop Center teaching fifth graders from northeast
Connecticut about light and optics. The event was part of EASTCONN’s Systems Explorers, an Interdistrict program engaging
students from participating districts in engineering, robotics and science projects. One hundred and twenty students from Skinner Road
School (Vernon) and Stafford Elementary School took part in optics and wave activities.

            SPIE members Derek Tourangeau, Gregory Doyon, Jr. and Debra Seagraves conducted a laser mirror challenge event,
first explaining and illustrating the law of reflection and then applying the law to direct a laser beam to a target. Students earned
points for correctly using a protractor to line up their laser target shot. Matthew Donnelly, an SPIE member from Rensselaer
Polytechinic Institute, assisted TRCC Professor Judy Donnelly in an activity to construct a spectroscope and use it to observe
the light spectrum produced by several different types of light sources.

            The event was coordinated by Nancy Magnani, EASTCONN staff developer and facilitator of the Systems Explorers program,

who conducted experiments in wave behavior with the students. This is the third year that TRCC SPIE members have helped out with
the Systems Explorers’ optics activities.

    

Greg (L) and Derek (R) check the alignment of a laser beams in the mirror target challenge. Matt markets SPIE everywhere he goes.