Two Richland School District science teachers recently headed west with their students for field trips, seeking to add some LIGO flavor to their teaching of several key science concepts. The Richland District is one of the nearest to the Observatory, drawing students from the communities of West Richland and Richland.

Carmichael Middle School 8th grade science teacher Denise Ruane brought two classes for some exercise on Washington GLE's connected to wave behavior, gravity and scale relations in the universe. Students worked with LIGO's interactive exhibits in a hands-on pursuit of these content areas. A showing of Einstein's Messengers, a walking tour of the site and a visit to the LHO control room acquainted the students with LIGO's perspective on waves, gravity, space and the role of inquiry in professional science and engineering.

Hanford High chemistry teacher Cathy Stordeur wanted her students to see connections between LIGO science and principles of chemistry. LIGO Hanford Head Fred Raab responded with LIGO for chemists, a presentation in which he discussed some of the ways that atoms and their behavior affect three LIGO compenents -- the laser, the vacuum system and the interferometer mirrors. Students learned that chemistry topics such as quantized electron levels, kinetic molecular theory, Van der Waals forces and Brownian motion play prominent roles in LIGO. These concepts were reinforced as the students visited the exhibits and took the site tour.

Mrs. Ruane and Mrs. Stordeur had each participated in the 2005 version of The Nature of Scientific Inquiry, a WSU Tri-Cities summer graduate course for teachers hosted by LIGO. From their experience in the course they became familiar with the Observatory's field trip program for students and decided that field trips would support the elements of science inquiry that they continue to incorporate into their teaching.