Spring 2006 Newsletter

Happy Pi Day!

Area students will celebrate a special anniversary on March 14, 2006: the 300^th anniversary of Pi, or Π.  Pi Day is celebrated on March 14 because the digits in this date correspond with Pi’s first three digits (3.14159….)  Pi, the relationship of a circle’s circumference to its diameter, is an irrational number whose digits never end, although it has been calculated to billions of places.

To celebrate Pi Day’s special anniversary, Sci-Tech Discovery Center worked with area schools to support 6^th grade math curriculum, where the value of Pi is first introduced.  Designed to help think about the meaning of Pi, over 10,000 activity bookmarks were provided by Sci-Tech, with the help of printing partner, Alcatel.  The bookmark also directs them to Sci-Tech’s website to continue their exploration.  Jim Wohlgehagen, Plano ISD’s Secondary Mathematics Curriculum Coordinator, said of the project, “This helps to link student interests with what they are discovering in the classroom and strengthens their understanding.“  Welsh mathematician William Jones, a friend of Sir Isaac Newton’s, gave the value its name in 1706.  Even before Enlightenment times, a very similar value was proven by Greek scholar, Archimedes, in 200 B.C..   

Sci-Tech also worked with Plano ISD to produce a short film clip about real-world applications of Pi, featuring interviews with Alcatel and Richardson Bike Mart.  (Click here for a printable version of the bookmark and to visit the Pi Page on the Sci-Tech website.)

Upcoming Plans

Sci-Tech Discovery Center and its generous sponsors brought exciting preview exhibits for the past two summers to provide a taste of what the permanent Sci-Tech Discovery Center can be and to demonstrate the need in our area for math, science and technology learning experiences.  Almost 30,000 visitors participated, and survey respondents enthusiastically supported bringing a permanent museum to our area.  The mission of Sci-Tech continues to grow in importance with renewed national efforts to protect America’s competitive edge. 

Now that the case for Sci-Tech Discovery Center is further demonstrated and strongly supported, the Sci-Tech organization has doubled its commitment to continue working toward a permanent facility for our area.  While there will not be a summer preview exhibit in 2006, Sci-Tech will look for ways to support the mission of hands-on math, science and technology learning experiences in various ways, similar to the math program this month.

As supporters of this effort, you can help make a permanent museum happen more quickly by referring interested donors to our board.  We invite you to contact us at any time:  info@mindstretchingfun.org or (972)546-3050.