Newsletter, Feb 24th 2023
Feb 19-25 was Engineering Week. As attributed to Einstein -
“Scientists investigate that which already is. Engineers create that which has never been.”
Today's newsletter then is dedicated to all Engineers. Thank you for continuing to create new things, fix broken things, and do a million other tasks that make our lives better!
In other news, I am excited to announce the start of our subscription box offering! I'm starting with the 4-8 age group since this is the age when I find parents are most busy. With the best of intentions, you do not have time to go and browse in a bookstore every so often for new reads and the kids are not quite ready to pick out for themselves. Enter the Book Subscription Box - every month a newly released fiction or non-fiction book will magically appear at your doorstep ready for you to snuggle up and surprise your little ones with. Sign up for 3, 6 or 12 months and the first month is free !
Another new idea - see what happens when you have a snow day?
Nerd Nights - So we do Author events, but one of the original premise for the Spot was to be a place for everyone in the community to share their expertise with one another. In that spirit, I'd like to invite people once a month to come give a 15-20 min talk on any topic that would be of interest to the Spot community. Think TED talks but waaaaay more casual, bring your drink if you'd like. More hangout than presentation. I'm thinking we will have 3 speakers a night, these will be held Thursday nights starting at 7pm - after dinner, after kids duty. The first one will be held April 13th. These will be free events - both for presenters and attendees. Just bring your curiosity! We'll try to announce the speakers somewhat in advance but part of the fun of these may be just coming in blind to discover something new - nerd out, hang out!
If you have additional questions about the Subscription box or Nerd Nights - or anything else for that matter - we now have WhatsApp for Business setup for the store phone # - 952-217-5682. Yay! If calling feels intrusive to you - and lets face it, who talks on the phone anymore? - you can now use WhatsApp to message me anytime, anywhere! If you ask too detailed a question though, I reserve the right to pick up the phone and call :)
UPCOMING AUTHOR EVENTS
All Author events are FREE but registration is required. Register early to reserve your spot!
Landscaping for Bees - Saturday, March 11th, 2:00 pm - Heather Holm - Minnetonka's very own celebrity pollinator expert will speak about “Creating and Managing Landscapes for Native Bees”. Her books on Bees and Wasps are also now on our regional shelf! She is a prolific researcher and writer and speaker about all things pollination.
Ecology for Kids - Saturday, March 18th, 10:00 am - Liz Heinecke - Our favorite local scientist is back with another book. Her latest - Ecology for Kids - releases on March 7th and this will be our “book launch” party for her. As usual, she will have experiments from her book for the kids (and adults) to watch and perform!
How High We Go in the Dark - Sunday, April 16th, 1:00 pm - Sequoia Nagamatsu - Book-signing, reading, and discussion about the national best-selling novel "How high we go in the dark" with Author Sequoia Nagamatsu. For fans of Cloud Atlas and Station Eleven, a spellbinding and profoundly prescient debut that follows a cast of intricately linked characters over hundreds of years as humanity struggles to rebuild itself in the aftermath of a climate plague—a daring and deeply heartfelt work of mind-bending imagination from a singular new voice. Our Fiction book club will be reading this book next, in preparation for the event!
OTHER EVENTS
Reading with Getty - has been popular with the kids. She will be back in-store Feb 28th. If you missed it or want another chance at reading to her, go ahead and sign up. We're thinking of making Getty a regular presence at the Spot. Reading out loud is not a one-time thing, this is a good way to get those reluctant readers in the habit of reading and somedays even the best of them could use a little pick-me-up that only Getty can provide!
Conversational AI Workshop - Reminder that our Feb event is this Sunday the 26th of Feb at 2:00pm The March event will be held in person and also live-streamed. Please select the appropriate ticket when registering.
KIDS WORKSHOPS
Robotics with STEM Builders
Sat February 25th, 4-5:15 pm - Celebrate Engineering Week by learning about building robots! This is a great way to get some extra learning in, while having fun! Best for kids 6-10. Registration is open.
CHESS Workshops with Dr. Fun - Registration is now open! Sessions are for all ages! Parents if you're intimidated by your kids' skills, you may want to take these too!
Super excited to present two CHESS Workshops run by Dr. Fun. Did you know that chess can help improve analytical thinking and problem-solving skills, as well as kids’ math and reading scores? America’s Fun Science presents four classes of fun learning chess basics from a championship chess coach; each class focuses on a different piece. The series culminates with a mini-tournament and prizes! And, you can learn to play Four-Way Chess!
Beginner Chess - 2 sessions. 2 hrs each. March 11th and 25th 10:30a-12:30p.
Intermediate Chess - 2 sessions. 2 hrs each. April 1st and 8th 10:30a-12:30p.
BOOK CLUBS
I have a page created on the site with all the information for the various Book Clubs. That will be kept up-to-date going forward. Call or WhatsApp to join!
SCIENCE NEWS
Today's news from the world of Engineering
SPIDER Robots that can fly! Sounds like something out of a horror film, but these SPIDAR ( SPherIcally vectorable and Distributed rotors assisted Air-ground amphibious quadruped Robot, quite a mouthful that) robots can go places humans can't!
A Bionic finger that uses touch to “see” inside humans and electronics! Imagine something able to just touch and tell you what bone you broke or what wire is disconnected in your device!
This is a surprisingly satisfying to watch video of a packaging machine! Knowing in abstract that machines do all the product packaging these days vs actually watching them do it - kinda mind-blowing!
READING
Engineering week celebration continues with today's book recommendations. Discover books on Engineering of various kinds.
New releases for the week have been added to our site.
Engineering Titles for ALL Ages
Baby Loves Aerospace Engineering!
By Ruth Spiro
Ages 0 to 3, Grades P And Under - there are several books in this wonderful series .
Big, brainy science for the littlest listeners Accurate enough to satisfy an expert, yet simple enough for baby, this book explores the basics of flight – from birds, to planes and rockets – and ties it all to baby’s world. Beautiful, visually stimulating illustrations complement age-appropriate language to encourage baby’s sense of wonder. Parents and caregivers may learn a thing or two, as well! With tongue firmly in cheek, the Baby Loves Science series introduces highly intellectual science concepts to the littlest learners.
Ruth Spiro is the author of the Baby Loves Science series, published by Charlesbridge. These adorably illustrated board books contain expert-reviewed science, yet are simple enough for the very youngest readers. Another new picture book series, Made by Maxine, will be published by Penguin/Dial beginning in 2018. Her debut picture book, Lester Fizz, Bubble-Gum Artist (Dutton), won awards from Writer's Digest and Willamette Writers and was a Bank Street College of Education Best Book of the Year. Ruth is a frequent speaker at schools and conferences, and recent presentations include the Early Childhood STEM Conference at CalTech and the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books. Visit Ruth on her website here. Irene Chan is the illustrator of Baby Loves Quarks! and Baby Loves Aerospace Engineering! She is also an art director, designer, artist, and amateur photographer. She currently lives in Atlanta, GA. Visit Irene at www.eneri.net.
Experiment with Engineering Science
By Nick Arnold
Ages 6 to 9, Grades 1 to 4
In Experiment with Engineering Science, you can take science out of the lab and into your home with this book of fun engineering experiments to try! Science isn’t limited to the classroom – it can be created at home too! Explore the topic of engineering in this fascinating interactive title filled with ideas and experiments for readers to try themselves. This photographic book of engineering experiments and projects features clear, step-by-step instructions and a fresh, contemporary design, with an emphasis on fun, achievable experiments to give kids hands-on experiences. The science behind each experiment is explained, giving readers the theory behind the practical activities, and diagrams and photos show these fun and easy to recreate experiments in action! Experiments are grouped into chapters, including:
Build it or Break It, which looks at how children can recreate the principles of construction in their own homes,
Mechanical Marvels, where kids can build their own car, hot-air balloon or submarine out of household objects,
Testing Tomorrow, in which kids can learn about coding, green energy and electricity,
... and many more! All experiments are safe and easy for children to carry out, and have clear instructions and advice to help them get bests results and understand the science that underpins the projects. The STEAM Ahead series shows readers that science isn’t limited to the classroom – it can be found out in the garden, cooked up in the kitchen and brought to life with paper and paints! Titles in the series include: STEAM Ahead: Experiment with Kitchen Science STEAM Ahead: Experiment with Outdoor Science STEAM Ahead: Experiment with Art STEAM Ahead: Experiment with Engineering Science
Nick Arnold is a British writer of science books for children, best known for his hugely successful, award-winning series Horrible Science—one of which was awarded the Aventis prize. He is a keen supporter of libraries and founded the Appledore Book Festival after leading a campaign to save six libraries from closure.
Giulia Zoavo is an Italian illustrator based in Brooklyn who loves to tell stories and make people smile.
Women in Engineering
By Mary Wissinger
Ages 7 to 10, Grades 2 to 5
Think like an engineer! Women engineers from ancient times to present day have dreamed up ideas to improve and connect the world. Explore the world of engineering with an inquisitive protagonist and an astute narrator. Their kid-friendly conversation delves into the amazing work of trailblazing engineers. Women in Engineering is bound to encourage creative problem solving in kids!
What ideas do you have that could connect others? Women in Engineering introduces kids to the field of engineering through the questions of a spunky girl whose inquiries guide an engaging, scientifically accurate conversation.
Readers will experience how an engineer thinks and be introduced to determined women engineers who have dreamed up ideas to improve and connect the world.
The profiled women, who come from a diverse array of countries and centuries, include Huang Daopo, Emily Warren Roebling, Maria / Miriam the Prophetess, Hedy Lamarr, Sandra Cauffman, and Dr. Treena Livingston Arinzeh.
Designed to motivate girls to learn more about the field of engineering and see how one person’s imagination can change the world, this book has been peer reviewed by an extensive team of scientists, science educators, and parents.
Concepts covered include engineer, civil engineer, mechanical engineer, electrical engineer, laboratory, double boiler, radio signal, frequency hopping signal, Frequency-Hopping Spread Spectrum, satellites, construction, biomaterials, and experiment. The fourth book in the captivating “Science Wide Open” series, Women in Engineering is bound to encourage creative problem-solving in kids!
Mary Wissinger was born in Wisconsin where she spent most of her childhood singing, reading, and daydreaming. She dove into storytelling through acting, singing, and writing (and writing and writing!). A former teacher, she can now be found at her standing desk in St. Louis, MO, writing stories that inspire curiosity about the world and connection with others. She is the author of the Science Wide Open Series and the My First Science Textbook Series. To learn more about Mary, you can check out her website, MaryWissinger.com.
Danielle Pioli is an artist and illustrator whose mission is to inspire others to create. The idea of creating a whole universe from her mind to paper is what made her fall in love with art and storytelling. As a child, she was drawn to magic-what she calls Quantum Physics now. She creates art, illustrations, comics, zines, poems, songs, and hypnotherapy sessions. She is the illustrator of the Science Wide Open Series. For more information on Danielle's work, you can visit her website at DaniellePioli.com.
Colossus
By Colin Hynson
Ages 8 to 12, Grades 3 to 7
Colossus explores some of the greatest feats of engineering in history, from ancient pyramids to enormous bridges to towering skyscrapers. Have you ever wondered how it’s possible for the tallest buildings in the world to stay standing through the most severe earthquakes? Or how a prehistoric civilization managed to build something as impressive as Stonehenge? Discover the engineering that has led to the most innovative buildings, bridges, and monuments on the planet, from towering skyscrapers to energy-creating dams to underground tunnels miles long. Learn how people have historically turned to engineering to build higher, farther, faster, and greener into the future.
Colin Hynson worked in museum and heritage education, including the Science Museum in London, before becoming a children’s and educational writer. He has written more than thirty nonfiction books for young people. He has also been a scriptwriter, appeared on radio and television, and written for the Guardian, the Times Educational Supplement, BBC History magazine, and various computing magazines. Giulia Lombardo is a children’s illustrator who studied entertainment design at the Nemo Academy of Digital Arts in Italy. She has illustrated many different subjects, but she especially loves to draw buildings, cities, and architecture. She works surrounded by cats, dogs, rabbits, and a chicken in her home in Florence, Italy.
Cardboard Box Engineering
By Jonathan Adolph
Ages 9 to 14, Grades 4 to 9
Young tinkerers and makers will find creative ways to use cardboard boxes, sheets, and tubes in easily-engineered projects, including awesome gadgets, toys, games, inventions, and sculptures.Cardboard is everywhere! For creative kids aged 9 to 14, it’s the perfect eco-friendly building material, and Cardboard Box Engineering is the perfect guide to get them started on inventive tinkering.
A working kaleidoscope, a marble roller coaster, a robotic hand, and a wind-powered tractor with cardboard gears are just some of the ingenious projects developed by Jonathan Adolph, author of the best-selling Mason Jar Science. Working with simple household tools, kids can follow the step-by-step photographic instructions to exercise their design smarts, expand their 3-D thinking, and learn the basics of physics and engineering with activities that have real-life applications.
Jonathan Adolph is the author of Cardboard Box Engineering and the best-selling Mason Jar Science. As the former editor of the award-winning FamilyFun magazine, he developed hundreds of “stealth learning” games and kitchen-science activities during his 20-year career. He specializes in making technical information fun for kids and is an adjunct professor of journalism at the University of Massachusetts. He lives with his family in Amherst, Massachusetts.
Mechanical Engineering for Makers
By Brian Bunnell
Learn to effectively use professional mechanical engineering principles in your projects, without having to graduate from engineering school!
This practical, user-friendly reference book of common mechanical engineering concepts is geared toward makers who don't have (or want) an engineering degree but need to know the essentials of basic mechanical elements to successfully accomplish their personal projects.
The book provides practical mechanical engineering information (supplemented with the applicable math, science, physics, and engineering theory) without being boring like a typical textbook. Most chapters contain at least one hands-on, fully illustrated, step-by-step project to demonstrate the topic being discussed and requires only common, inexpensive, easily sourced materials and tools.
Some projects also provide alternative materials and tools and processes to align with the reader's individual preferences, skills, tools, and materials-at-hand. Linked together via the authors' overarching project -- building a kid-sized tank -- the chapters describe the thinking behind each mechanism and then expands the discussions to similar mechanical concepts in other applications. Written with humor, a bit of irreverence, and entertaining personal insights and first-hand experiences, the book presents complex concepts in an uncomplicated way. Highlights include:
Provides mechanical engineering information that includes math, science, physics and engineering theory without being a textbook
Contains hands-on projects in each chapter that require common, inexpensive, easily sourced materials and tools
All hands-on projects are fully illustrated with step-by-step instructions
Some hands-on projects provide alternative materials and tools/processes to align with the reader's individual preferences, skills, tools and materials-at-hand
Includes real-world insights from the authors like tips and tricks ("Staying on Track") and fail moments ("Lost Track!")
Many chapters contain a section ("Tracking Further") that dives deeper into the chapter subject, for those readers that are interested in more details of the topic
Builds on two related Make: projects to link and illustrate all the chapter topics and bring individual concepts together into one system
Furnishes an accompanying website that offers further information, illustrations, projects, discussion boards, videos, animations, patterns, drawings, etc.
Brian Bunnell is a mechanical engineer by education but a tinkerer at heart. He earned his Engineering Degree from Clemson University in 2000 and has been working in mechanical design ever since. Brian began tinkering early on (creating crazy projects with his Dad), and Making quickly became his lifelong passion.
Samer Najia holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Duke University and an MBA from American University, but he is a passionate serial Maker, particularly of things that move and especially of things that fly. Samer started building at age six and never stopped. His projects just seem to get bigger over time.
A Degree in a Book: Electrical And Mechanical Engineering
By David Baker
A concise introduction to all the key tenets of electrical and mechanical engineering degree course, written by former NASA engineer Dr David Baker. A Degree in a Book: Electrical and Mechanical Engineering is presented in an attractive landscape format in full-color. With flow charts, infographics, timelines, feature spreads and information boxes, this highly visual guide will help readers quickly get to grips with the fundamentals of electrical and mechanical engineering and their practical applications. Covering Newtonian mechanics, nuclear engineering, artificial intelligence, 3D printing and more, this essential guide brings clarity to complex ideas. David Baker delves into the history and development of this far-reaching subject as well as the challenges of the future such as environmental responsibility. Complete with a useful glossary of key terms, this holistic introduction will equip students and laypeople alike with the knowledge of an engineering graduate. ABOUT THE SERIES: Get the knowledge of a degree for the price of a book in Arcturus Publishing's A Degree in a Book series. Featuring handy timelines, information boxes, feature spreads and margin annotations, these illustrated books are perfect for anyone wishing to master seemingly complex subject with ease and enjoyment..
Dr David Baker worked with NASA on the Gemini, Apollo and Shuttle programmes between 1965 and 1990. He has written more than 100 books on space flight, aviation and military technology. David is currently a fellow of the British Interplanetary Society and editor of the monthly Spaceflight magazine.
Zero to Genetic Engineering Hero
By Justin Pahara
Zero to Genetic Engineering Hero is made to provide you with a first glimpse of the inner-workings of a cell. It further focuses on skill-building for genetic engineering and the Biology-as-a-Technology mindset (BAAT).
This book is designed and written for hands-on learners who have little knowledge of biology or genetic engineering. This book focuses on the reader mastering the necessary skills of genetic engineering while learning about cells and how they function.
The goal of this book is to take you from no prior biology and genetic engineering knowledge toward a basic understanding of how a cell functions, and how they are engineered, all while building the skills needed to do so.
Dr. Justin Pahara has more than a decade of bioengineering experience as well as extensive knowledge of synthetic biology tech, markets, and work-flows. Justin studied Synthetic Biology at the University of Cambridge (PhD, MoTI in JBS), Singularity University (GSP-10; Google Fellow), iGEM (2007, 2008), the University of Alberta (B.Sc., M.Sc.).
Julie Legault is a designer-entrepreneur from the city of Montreal. Over the last decade, Julie has worked in design research, innovation and the maker movement. Julie began her career earning a B.F.A. (Design & Computation Art) and a Graduate Certificate (Digital Technologies in Design Art) from Concordia University in Montreal. Julie furthered her skills and knowledge by completing a Master of Art in the School of Materials at the Royal College of Art in London, United Kingdom and a Master of Science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Media Lab. Grateful for her early access to computing in her childhood thanks to a pioneering mother, Julie has since dedicated herself to translating complex technologies for beginners through teaching and applied design.
The Handy Engineering Answer Book
By DeLean Tolbert Smith
A handy resource on the fundamental facts about engineering for both engineers and non-engineers alike, whether you are exploring engineering for the first time, already have a strong background, or fall anywhere in between.
Engineering impacts every aspect of our lives. Bridges, buildings, buses, electrical grids, computers, televisions, refrigerators, vacuum cleaners, and virtually any everyday household item needs to be engineered to function properly. Fundamentally, engineering is about identifying a need and developing solutions that meet that need. Throughout history, engineering ideas and innovative feats have provided solutions to many challenges faced by civilizations. From the Great Wall of China to NASA's space program, The Handy Engineering Answer Book covers the history of the field, details the lives of key figures, introduces the tools engineers use to solve problems, and provides fun facts and answers to a thousand important and interesting questions, such as …
What is the difference between science and engineering?
What do engineers do?
What are some famous engineering mistakes or failures?
What is reverse engineering?
What is a prototype?
What types of jobs do electrical engineers do?
How does a car battery work?
What are the major job responsibilities of a HVAC engineer?
What is a Powertrain?
What is Bernoulli’s principle?
What are the Laws of Thermodynamics?
What’s the difference between 2-stroke and 4-stroke engines?
What is stress and strain?
What is the difference between torque and power?
What is automation?
What is quality assurance?
What is meant by outsourcing?
What are the responsibilities of a construction manager?
What are the types of road construction that are both durable and cost-effective?
Which materials are used to build a cruise ship?
What are some design elements that help structures withstand earthquakes?
How does a civil engineer design water slides for theme parks?
Who was W. Edwards Deming?
What is ergonomics?
What is biomedical engineering?
Who is Grace Hopper?
What is debugging?
What is the difference between a web developer and a website designer?
Was Leonardo da Vinci an aerospace engineer?
Where do chemical engineers work?
How much energy does the world use?
What are the major challenges addressed by environmental engineers?
What is humanitarian engineering?
What is acoustical engineering?
What are the required skills for fire engineers?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of nanotechnology?
With more than 140 photos and graphics, this fascinating tome is richly illustrated. Its helpful bibliography and extensive index add to its usefulness. Whether using science and math or building prototypes for testing or the development of various subdisciplines, The Handy Engineering Answer Book looks at how fundamental engineering is to modern life and society!
DeLean Tolbert Smith, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering department at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. She earned her Ph.D. in engineering education from Purdue University, and her research led to a National Science Foundation CAREER award. She is a Detroit native and resides there with her husband.
Aishwary Pawar is a doctoral candidate in industrial & systems engineering at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. His research is focused on investigating the factors that influence undergraduate enrollment, retention, graduation, and dropout. For his Ph.D., he plans to incorporate human-centered design and data analytics to promote student success in undergraduate engineering programs and to support higher education professionals in recognizing minoritized students' diverse needs. A graduate student instructor at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, he teaches lab sessions in engineering and engineering design and resides in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.
Nicole P. Pitterson, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the Department of Engineering Education at Virginia Tech. She has a Ph.D. in engineering education from Purdue University. She researches how curriculum design, testing, and teaching can boost students' understanding. She currently resides in Christiansburg, Virginia.
Debra-Ann C. Butler, Ph.D., received her bachelor of arts from the University of Miami and her Ph.D. in educational policy, planning, and leadership with a focus on higher education from William and Mary. Dr. Butler's career span over 20 years in higher education working in student services, academic affairs, and program administration. She currently resides in Michigan with her husband and two beautiful daughters.
Engineering in Plain Sight
By Grady Hillhouse
Engineering in Plain Sight is a beautifully illustrated field guide with accessible explanations to nearly every part of the constructed world around us. Author Grady Hillhouse is the creator behind the popular YouTube channel Practical Engineering (over 3 million subscribers!) and this book is essentially 50 new episodes crammed between two covers. Engineering in Plain Sight extends the field guide genre from natural phenomena to human-made structures, making them approachable and understandable to non-engineers. It transforms readers' perspectives of the built environment, converting the act of looking at infrastructure from a mundane inevitability into an everyday diversion and joy. Each section of this accessible, informative book features colorful illustrations revealing the fascinating details of how the human-made world works. An ideal road trip companion, this book offers a fresh perspective on the parts of the environment that often blend into the background. Readers will learn to identify characteristics of the electrical grid, roadways, railways, bridges, tunnels, waterways, and more. Engineering in Plain Sight inspires curiosity, interest, and engagement in how the infrastructure around us is designed and constructed.
Grady Hillhouse is a civil engineer and science communicator widely known for his educational video series Practical Engineering, currently one of the largest engineering channels on YouTube with over 3 million subscribers and millions of views each month. His videos, which focus on infrastructure and the human-made environment, have garnered media attention from around the world and been featured on both the Science Channel and Discovery Channel in addition to many other publications. Before producing videos full time, Hillhouse spent nearly ten years as an engineering consultant, working on a wide variety of infrastructure projects with a focus on dams and hydraulic structures. He holds degrees from Texas State University and Texas A&M University.
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