Assumpta Science Center Ofekata-Owerri (ASCO) International Initiative promoted by the Vatican Pontifical Council for Culture, held her general meeting/training on 18th January 2020 at the ASCO Secretariat in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.
Introduction: All members of ASCO (Imo State – Nigeria main branch) that were present at the meeting introduced themselves. Miss Rosemary Akunobi a mathematics/basic science teacher from Saint Columbus Secondary school Amaimo, Chidera Amarikwa accountant graduate of UNN, Karin von Arx, Mbata Chinwendu, Mbata Odinaka, Ezenwoba Mary Cynthia and Mr. Anyadike Chigozie.
Training sessions: The Secretariat carried out two experiments which are:
1 – How to inflate balloon
Equipment’s used for the training includes: balloon, empty bottle, baking soda, vinegar and funnel
How to experiment: get an empty transparent bottle, pour in little quantity of vinegar, measure two teaspoon full of sodium Bicarbonate and pour into a balloon using Ur funnel, then cover the mouth of the bottle with the balloon n filled with sodium Bicarbonate.
Result: By doing so, once you pour the sodium Bicarbonate into the vinegar, a reaction takes place and forms a gas known as CO2 that inflates the balloon.
Practical carried out by Mbata Chinwedu and Karin von Arx.
2 – Conundrum for clever people
Equipment used, six cup glasses a bottle of water and food colorant.
How to experiment: get six glass cup, arrange in straight line fill three with water and food colorant leaving the other three empty. Try to alternate.
Result: Try alternate, having one cup filled with colored water, empty cup, colored water and so on till you get to the last cup.
Correspondence: Mr. Delos took permission not to be present at today’s meeting. The presiding officer Mbata Chinwedu made it known to the house that there will be school visitation at Ubommiri Girls Secondary School on Thursday 23rd January at 9:00am and all the Science Explainers are meant to come to the school from their respective homes.
AGENDUM:
ASCO science week coming up in March or April.
Reactions: Mbata Odinaka suggested that science week should be held during school activity and should also be a three days program. He said STAN can help talk to school teachers and principals to allow student’s come for the event. Ezenwoba Mary Cynthia suggested that the event should be held during school holiday because it may not be easy for schools to release their students for three days because it will interrupt their studies. She also said that the programs should be a three days program and each day should come up with different programs. Karin suggested that the program should be at the beginning or ending of the holiday. Chidera suggested that the event should be during school period. Miss Rosaline suggested that the event should be held during school holiday because no teacher would like to skip his/ her scheme of work and also the event should be held within Owerri not at the
permanent site. Chinwedu suggested that saint Mulumba premises should be for the program, time for the event should be 10am-3pm.
Mini- program for the three days science week event.
Day1 and 2. Introduction, Lectures, experiments, questions and answer.
Day3. Competitions between schools, exhibitions from different schools and awarding prizes to the best three performed schools.
Mbata Odinaka adjourned the meeting at 1:26pm prayer said by Karin.
