Rome Academy of Sciences (RAS) will host its annual kick-off dinner meeting starting at 6:30 p.m. on September 12, 2018 at the El Jarocho Mexican Restaurant and Bar (the old Bucky’s restaurant), 1303 Floyd Ave, Rome, NY 13440. The event will present our program for the coming year to include the Rome science fairs, science hall of fame induction, recognition of outstanding RFA seniors, etc. Current and past RAS members are encouraged to attend. The general public is invited to attend to learn more about the Academy and its programs. Our guest speaker for the evening is Mr. Monk Rowe, a noted jazz artist, performer and expert from Hamilton College. He will share with us a presentation on the relationship between music and science and how both are interrelated. If interested in attending this event, please contact Fred Haritatos at fharitatos@twcny.rr.com or Bob Herrmann at herrmann@twcny.rr.com. This will enable us to give the restaurant an accurate head count.
2018 Science Fair Postponed
The 2018 Rome Science Fair has postponed as a result of yesterday’s weather. The fair has been moved to the following Saturday, March 10, 2018 at 8:00 AM. We hope to see everyone there and apologize for the inconvenience!
John E. Meyer, Jr., Oneida County Director of Weights and Measures, April 11th
At 7:30 PM Tuesday, April 11, 2016 John E. Meyer, Jr. will give a lecture open to the public about the Oneida County Bereau of Weights and Measures at the Rome Historical Society, 200 Church Street, Rome, NY.
The mission of the Bureau of Weights and Measures is to promote equity in all commercial transactions based on weight or measure.
Have you ever wondered about?
- If you really got ten gallons the last time you filled your car with gasoline?
- If that premium gasoline really was 93 Octane?
- If you really got a half a pound of corned beef last week at the deli?
Mr. Meyer has been Director of the Oneida County Weights and Measures since 1997. He will explain the tools and techniques his office uses to ensure that people follow the rules and that no one gets cheated. Additionally, he will explain many of the different types of inspections and testing they perform. He will display some of his smaller testing standards for the attendees to see. The adherence to regulations and the role of the “honest broker” is critical for science, industry and commerce. He received AAS degree in Civil Engineering Technology from MVCC in 1995.
An informal dinner will be held at the SAVOY in Rome on Tuesday, April 11, 2017 at 5:30 p.m. Anyone interested in having dinner with our guest speaker and some Trustees, please contact Fred Haritatos at telephone 315-336-9289 or email at FHaritatos@twcny.rr.com before April 10, 2017.
This meeting is open to the public.
Hope you will attend.
Donations for the Rome Academy of Sciences Scholarship Fund are always welcome.
2017 Rome Science Fairs
The 60th Annual Rome Science Fair will be held at 8:00am on Saturday, March 11th at the Rome Free Academy. More than sixty students will present their projects in the pursuit of knowledge and competitive prizes. The fair will be open to the public from 11:30 – 1pm and the public awards ceremony will begin at 1pm. “Curiosity” is the theme of the science fair this year.
Prizes are offered in 14 categories and 6 grades at the senior science fair. Companies and organizations kindly sponsoring the fair include: Advanced Technology Group, Alion Science and Technology, AmeriCu Credit Union, Association of Old Crows, Bartell Machinery Systems, Birnie Bus Services, Booz Allen Hamilton, Byrne Dairy, Deployed Resources, Friends of Science, Interactive Engineering Solutions, Kicks for Kids Foundation, Maniac Consulting, Mohawk Glen Imaging, Revere Copper Products, Rome Fire Department Benevolent Association, Rome Rotary Club, Rome Sentinel, Rome Teachers Association, and SUNY Poly Foundation.
The SUNY Poly Foundation will provide a generous $2,000 scholarship to attend SUNY Poly for the grand prize. Booz Allen Hamilton will provide the second and third grand prizes of $400 and $200 respectively. In each grade or category the first place award is $100 and the second place award is $50.
The Science Fair at the New York State School for the Deaf (NYSSD) will be Wednesday, March 8th at noon. The Rome Sentinel is sponsoring 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prizes of $100, $75, $50 for the senior grades and $75, $50, $25 for the junior grades of the science fair at the NYSSD.
The Junior Science Fair will occur Tuesday, February 28th at 3pm. Judging will take place from 3-4 and the fair will open to families at 4pm. The Kicks for Kids Foundation is sponsoring the Jr. Science Fair prizes. 1st and 2nd place prizes of $50 and $25 will be awarded in each of the Display, Demonstration and Experiment categories, and to the best projects in 5th grade and 6th grade.
The Rome Academy of Sciences was chartered by the New York State Board of Regents in 1966 and aims to increase education and knowledge of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics in the Rome City School District area. The Academy presents the science fairs for grades 5 through 12, presents lectures by various speakers at public events throughout the year, awards the Rome Science Hall of Fame every July, and provides scholarships to students based on their academic performance in the maths and sciences. All Academy of Sciences events and projects are run by volunteers and the Academy is a 501(c)3 non-profit. Membership and organization information are available at https://romescience.org and on Facebook at “Rome Academy of Sciences”.
Science Fair Registration Now Closed
Students please note that registration for the 2017 science fair is now closed. If you have any problem with your registration or any other emergency PLEASE use our contact form. Have a good winter break and we can’t wait to see your projects!
Griffiss International Airport and UAS Test Site Overview: January 24th 7:30pm
Russell O. Stark is an aviation professional providing domestic and international aviation experience and innovative leadership for his tenants, customers and staff.
In his presentation, Mr. Stark will cover current and future improvements and operations at the airport as well as long and short-term goals. In addition, past and future Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) testing as well as future infrastructure additions will be provided. His presentation will conclude with a brief discussion on the UAS corridor planned to connect Syracuse and Griffiss. Short videos of some of the UAS tests will be featured during the presentation.
Mr. Stark retired from the U.S. Army with almost 32 years of active duty service. During his time in the military he received qualifications on both helicopters as well as fixed wing airplanes. He attended the U.S. Army Warrant Officer Flight Training Program, numerous Army Aviation qualification courses and has received both a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and an MBA from City University. Mr. Stark is a member of the New York Aviation Management Associations committees for Academic Outreach and Training, Chairman of the NYAMA UAS Committee, Affiliate member and Accredited Airport Executive (AAE) Candidate of the American Association of Airport Executives and also serves as an adjunct instructor for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
An informal dinner will be held at the SAVOY in Rome on Tuesday, January 24, 2017 at 5:30 p.m. Anyone interested in having dinner with our guest speaker and some Trustees, please contact one of the following on or before Friday, January 20: Fred Haritatos 336-9289 (FHaritatos@twcny.rr.com) or Rich Rabe 336-4205 (rerabe@aol.com)
2017 Science Fair Registration
The 2017 Science Fair registration page for the senior science fair (7th-12th grades) is available at “Register for the Science Fair“. If you have any questions please use our Contact page.
We are working with the schools to display flyers and inform the students that registration is open. Be sure to register before mid-February as we must allocate display space.
Edit: You do NOT need to register as a team. If you are an individual student simply leave the teammate text fields blank. If you are a team then you and your teammate need to only submit one registration with both names—you do not need to submit two registrations.
Linda L. Martin, M.Ed. Lecture on Dyslexia, November 2nd
At 7:30 PM Wednesday, November 2, 2016 Linda Martin will give a lecture open to the public about Dyslexia at the Rome Historical Society, 200 Church Street, Rome, NY.
Dyslexia is a common learning disability that hinders the development of reading skills. Reading is not a natural act, it must be learned. Most dyslexic people have average IQs and many dyslexic people have been recognized with very high IQs.
What can society do to bring out the full potential of a dyslexic youth? Millions of school children with dyslexia endure frustration and demoralization on a daily basis as they struggle to acquire skills that many of us take for granted.
Linda Martin has a very challenging job, not only helping children, but in teaching and training teachers and other educators how to recognize and guide the dyslexic child. She is the Director of the Central NY 32nd Degree Masonic Learning Center For Children. Linda’s work, and the goals of the Masonic Learning Center will be covered in this very enlightening lecture. Linda is a certified trainer of tutors and advanced tutors. She is also certified as a trainer of trainers. The council in which she participates is called the International Multisensory Structure Language Education Council. The Masonic Center is in its 12th year of the program. They serve children throughout the north-central area of New York State.
An informal dinner will be held at the SAVOY in Rome on Wednesday, November 2nd 2016 at 5:30 p.m. Anyone interested in having dinner with our guest speaker and some Trustees, please contact us on or before Monday, October 31st.
Rome, New York, Water Supply Rebuilding the Water Tunnel From Taberg to Lee
On Thursday October 20th, 2016 at 7:30 PM at the Rome Historical Society Auditorium, Jon R. Putnam, P.E., B.C.C.E. will present “Rome, New York, Water Supply Rebuilding the Water Tunnel From Taberg to Lee”. We hope to see you there.
Mr. Putnam will present a description of the recent rehabilitation of the City’s East Branch Fish Creek Raw Water Tunnel located in Taberg, that was originally constructed in, and in service since, 1908. The mile-long underground tunnel provides water from the Kessinger Dam to the City of Rome’s water system. Presentation will include history of tunnel, the engineering investigations and design phase, and rehabilitation phase of the project.
Mr. Putnam has over 18 years of experience in civil and environmental engineering industry, including the planning, engineering, design, and construction of water and wastewater systems, street and site development, trenchless technologies, and construction engineering and engineering management. He is a licensed professional engineer in New York State and a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, New York Rural Water Association, North American Society of Trenchless Technologies, and the current Vice President of the American Public Works Association New York Chapter. He holds Bachelor Degrees in Agricultural and Civil Engineering from SUNY Morrisville and the SUNY Polytechnic Institute, and is a manager at GHD Consulting Engineers Cazenovia NY.
Mr. Putnam will be at a dinner at the Savoy Restaurant at 5:30 before the talk. The public is invited to attend both the dinner and the presentation. The presentation is free. Dinner reservations should be called in to the restaurant.
This meeting is open to the public. We hope you will attend.
Project Fibonacci – Full STEAM Ahead!
On September 21st Andrew Drozd will present “Project Fibonacci – Full STEAM Ahead!” A dinner meeting will be held at Vescio’s Franklin Hotel starting at 6:00 p.m. Bar and dinner selections paid individually by cash or check, no credit card please. Attendees will order from the restaurant menu. If interested in attending, please contact Fred Haritatos on or before September 14, 2015. This event is open to the public and we hope to see you there.
Mr. Andrew L. Drozd is President and Chief Research Scientist of ANDRO Computational Solutions, LLC located in Rome, NY. Established in 1994, ANDRO Computational Solutions is a scientific research company that is leading developments in emerging electromagnetic spectrum technologies for secure wireless communications, command and control systems, including autonomous systems and vehicles. Mr. Drozd received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physics and Mathematics in 1977 from Syracuse University, and a Master’s of Science in Electrical Engineering specializing in RF Communications and Signal Processing in 1982 also from Syracuse University. Mr. Drozd has authored over 170 technical papers, published reports, journal articles and book chapters. He is the past President of the IEEE Society on Electromagnetic Compatibility and an IEEE Fellow.
Mr. Drozd is passionate about promoting STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) throughout our region and especially in our schools. As a result, he initiated Project Fibonacci and a first-of-its-kind conference devoted to STEAM in Rome during 2016. In cooperation with local secondary schools, regional colleges/universities and other Mohawk Valley stakeholders, the conference promotes STEAM through an innovative and highly stimulating format with several world-renowned keynote speakers. During the presentation, Mr. Drozd will discuss the impact of the Fibonacci series, founded and inspired by the 13th Century Italian Western mathematician Leonardo Pisano Bonacci, as a metaphor for the importance of math as an interconnection across virtually all aspects of STEAM. He will also discuss major achievements accomplished during the 2016 Project Fibonacci STEAM conference as well as future plans.