This free workshop for formal and nonformal educators will include hands-on activities to explore how people see color, the electromagnetic radiation spectrum and how it can be measured, absorbance, what colors of light plants can absorb, what colors the sun emits, what colors emitted by the sun can be absorbed in the atmosphere, and spectrometry.
Participants will design and conduct an experiment during the workshop to understand why rivers feeding into Lake Superior appear brown while Lake Superior appear colorless, and which chemicals get bleached by sunlight. This experiment will familiarize participants with use of the Vernier Spectrophotometer to measure the emission of the sun and the absorbance and bleaching of chemicals in water.
This workshop applies research conducted by Minnesota Sea Grant-funded researcher Elizabeth Minor and her project on the photochemistry of plume constituents in Lake Superior.
Activities from this workshop support the following Minnesota State Science Standards:
- 8P.3.1.1.4 Develop and use a model to qualitatively describe that waves are reflected, absorbed, or transmitted through various materials. (P: 2, CC: 4, CI: PS4)
- 9C.1.1.1.1 Ask questions about the impact of greenhouse gases on the Earth’s climate by analyzing their molecular structure and responses during energy absorption (P: 1, CC: 5, CI: PS1)
- 7L.3.1.1.3 Develop and use a model to describe the cycling of matter and flow of energy among living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem. (P: 2, CC: 5, CI: LS2)
Participants can earn 4 hours of science CEUs from this workshop. Snacks will be provided.
This is a free event for formal and nonformal educators with a cap of 24. Registration is required.
When
Tuesday, July 1, 2025
8:00 a.m. to noon CT
Where
Great Lakes Aquarium
353 Harbor Dr.
Duluth, MN 55802
Registration
Registration is required. Attendance is capped at 24.
Event Presenters
- Bran Forsman, chemistry and physics teacher, Duluth Harbor City International School
Contact
Bran Forsman, chemistry and physics teacher, Duluth Harbor City International School. [email protected]
Image credit: Cait Dettmann/MNSG.