Office of the Governor
For Immediate Release:  Wednesday, February 27, 2002
For More Information Contact:  Tammy Bauck 773-6118, Nicole Nordbye 733-3661, or Robert Moak (NSC) 800-325-5445 ext. 5507

South Dakota School Kids Get Another Opportunity to Connect with National Science Center Experts

(Pierre) - The state Department of Education and Cultural Affairs is using technology again this month to link South Dakota classrooms with the National Science Center in Augusta, Georgia.  

In the last two months, hundreds of students interacted with leading experts in distance learning programs offered by the National Science Center.    The positive response and school requests have prompted additional programs to be offered via the Digital Dakota Network’s conferencing system.

Ten schools will link with the National Science Center at 9:00 a.m. (CT) on Thursday, February 28 to participate in "Carbon Dioxide:  The Sinking Gas."  Sixth through eighth grade students from the following schools are scheduled to participate:

Aberdeen, Simmons Middle School
Armour
Big Stone City
Bowdle
Bristol
Canistota
Corsica
Edmunds Central
Geddes
Shannon County, Rockyford Elementary
Sioux Falls, Axtell Park Middle School

During the program, the students will investigate, demonstrate and discuss the unique properties of carbon dioxide. Demonstrations will illustrate that carbon dioxide does not melt, that the gas is heavier than air and sinks when mixed with air. All demonstrations can be reproduced in the classroom with appropriate teacher supervision. 

The National Science Center (NSC) is a partnership between a non-profit organization (National Science Center, Inc) and the U.S. Army.  The primary mission of the NSC is to improve technical literacy and to encourage an interest in math and science careers.

The DDN is the state supported infrastructure that connects South Dakota’s schools systems through a video conferencing system.  The DDN also provides e-mail and Internet access to more than 600 school buildings at no charge to the school district.

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