Multimedia Gallery
Young museum visitor blows bubbles through a 3D geometric shape
A young visitor at the Children's Museum blows bubbles through a 3D geometric shape while participating in "3D Boxes and Bubbles," a hands-on activity instructed by an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship recipient and participant of Emory University's Research Experiences for Undergraduates program, funded by NSF.
More about this image
Trebat-Leder, a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship awardee and a participant in Emory's Research Experiences for Undergraduates program has a strong interest is making math accessible and inspiring for everyone -- from young children to adults. She volunteers her time in the summer at the Children's Museum where along with other Emory graduate students, enlightens children with math and physics through the "3D Boxes and Bubbles" activity.
For the activity, children build a variety of geometric structures out of ZomeTools, interlocking plastic balls and tubes. Next they use the structures to create soap bubbles in crazy shapes: squares, cubes, spirals, wormholes and parabolas. While the kids are busy making bubbles, the Emory students ask them questions about what they are observing. For example, why do they think an odd-shaped bubble is forming in the middle of a 3D geometric shape? The idea is to strip out complex jargon and give kids a glimpse into math and physics that will help them to think both logically and creatively.
In addition to her work at the museum, Trebat-Leder, along with Clemm, started the Emory Math Circle, a free program for middle and high schools students from Atlanta that offers challenging and fun math enrichment sessions led by Emory grad students on Saturdays. (Date of Image: June 2014)
Credit: Emory University; photo by Tony Benner
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