Sailing Science Center News
March 2023
Vol. 6, No. 7
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Welcome to the March issue of the Sailing Science Center News! The theme this month is Sprints. The mediator between perfection and completion is often a deadline. It is not unusual that making that deadline requires a sprint. An opportunity, and the right resources, pushed the SSC to a major sprint in February. You can read about below.
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Sprinting is probably the best single exercise you can do.
― Stan Efferding, World's strongest bodybuilder
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March Spotlight - Elizabeth Henderson |
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Elizabeth Henderson is the SSC’s newest volunteer, but for two months, from late December until February 23, she drove the SSC’s activities. We met Elizabeth while coaching a race program out of Berkeley. During role assignments Elizabeth declared, “I will drive.” And so it has been.
Born in Walnut Creek, Elizabeth grew up in various parts of California and Canada. She was home-schooled with rich experiences at places like the Exploratorium and the Lawrence Hall of Science. Her family moved to a farm when she was 10, where she became a competitive equestrian: jumping, western, English, you name it. This lifestyle gave her freedom and a work ethic most kids don’t have.
Elizabeth watched the crop dusters, and dreamt of being a pilot. Her dream evolved into being an astronaut after seeing Apollo 13—a dream that melded her love of science and adventure. She spent summers with her grandparents in British Columbia from 7th to 12th grade. Her grandfather emphasized physics—via pool and shuffleboard—and fishing for sockeye. Being forced to bludgeon the fish pushed Elizabeth to vegetarianism, which she maintains today.
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Elizabeth with her grandfather on the bow of a sailboat in British Columbia |
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Back in the States, Elizabeth entered public high school. She was only 12 and was always the youngest in her class. Her life and dreams took a sharp turn when she broke her knee in a dance rehearsal for the Junior Miss California pageant. It ended her riding career and hopes of being a military pilot and astronaut. She soon realized that studying got her out of chores, and a good education was her ticket off the farm. |
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It changed everything. Your plans are nothing without your health. |
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Elizabeth excelled academically in the International Baccalaureate program, putting her two years ahead when she entered college. She loved the sciences, but struggled in math, while being told that ‘math was just harder for girls’. Undeterred, she started junior college, taking all the math and science classes she could while working at Lawrence Livermore National Lab doing nuclear magnetic resonance imaging of proteins, and teaching kickboxing at the YMCA. She transferred to UC Davis, earning a bachelor’s in Nutrition Science, and a didactic degree in dietetics, while working in avian flu research at the UC Davis Center for Comparative Medicine. |
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Middle school bridge design— tangible physics and engineering.
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After graduation, Elizabeth got a chance to substitute teach high school chemistry. She never intended to be a teacher, but had such a good time, she left the lab and never looked back. Today, she teaches high school physics, chemistry, biology, and physiology in Granite Bay, having earned an M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction, and an Ed.D. in Urban Educational Leadership. |
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SCUBA diving is another of Elizabeth's passions. It has contributed to her sense of alarm. |
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Elizabeth and her husband sailing together. |
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There is nothing like diving, year after year at the same place, and watching it be systematically destroyed. |
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After our race, and learning about the SSC, Elizabeth promptly signed up to volunteer. From that time until February 23, Elizabeth led a fiendish sprint to submit a NOAA grant for educator training in climate change, sea level rise, and coastal erosion. We submitted the application on time, to the pride and satisfaction of everyone involved. Elizabeth is assertive, competent, and confident. We are delighted to have her on the team. |
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In business, just like in sprinting, you have to give it your all to win.
― Richard Branson, The Virgin Way
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February Volunteer Activities |
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After a quiet month in January, the SSC hit the volunteer activities hard in February, with on-the-water activity and an ultra-productive visit to the Lawrence Hall of Science. |
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On a cool, calm, and misty morning, with high afternoon winds in the forecast, ten passengers and three Navier (/na.vje/) employees gathered to sea trial the new Navier 30, electric, carbon fiber, 30-foot hydrofoil. Our first impression can be summarized in three words: quiet, smooth, and fast. Absent is the roar of outboard motors; the ride is so smooth you could set down a long stemmed glass of wine without it tipping or sloshing; and at 25-30 knots, it is also fast. The power readings on the boat's console persuade me of Navier's claim of a 10x energy savings, compared to conventional hulls and gas engines. This is still a young technology, but I concur with Navier's website claim that it is the Boat of the Future.
The SSC's Navier Sea Trial (3:05) video also took off flying. It quickly set the record for our fastest growing video, taking off at nearly twice the growth rate of our most popular video. Check it out to take a virtual voyage on this high-tech hydrofoil. |
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On a rainy February 26, the SSC had a volunteer day at the Lawrence Hall of Science. We were hosted by Lawrence employee, Michelle Rodriguez. For two hours we observed and played with the kids at the museum. We took notes on things we liked, noting which exhibits/activities were most engaging, and generating ideas for sailing exhibits along similar lines. Thanks go to Natalie Corkhill for coordinating the event, and to Michelle for taking the time to lead us. |
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Rod Donnaville checking out the Bernoulli Ball Exhibit (Video 5s)
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Lars Anderson & Steve Malton experiment with the Paper Airplane Launcher |
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Inexpensive and insanely simple, the Jenga blocks kept these builders engaged for hours.
Meanwhile, the giant, real time weather globe, that probably cost $100,000, had lost its live feed and didn't have a single person engaging with it.
Takeaway: Great museum content does not have to be expensive or complicated.
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Group Shot (L to R): Jim Hancock, Michelle Rodriguez, Steve Malton, Natalie Corkhill, Chris Winn, Lars Anderson, Rod Donaville, Maggie Heilman, Chris Davis |
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Sprinting teaches you to keep moving forward, even when you're out of breath and your legs feel like lead.
― Shalane Flanagan, American distance runner and Olympic medalist
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Clipper Cove Stakeholders' Summit |
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On February 6, we held the Clipper Cove Stakeholders' Summit, organized by the SSC and hosted at the Navier "skunkworks" in Alameda. Attending the meeting were representatives from the SSC, the Treasure Island Sailing Center, the Treasure Island Yacht Club, Treasure Island Enterprises (the marina developer), and Navier. The purpose of the summit was to get people together and talking to each other so they could appreciate each other's visions and challenges, and to coordinate efforts instead of working at cross purposes. It was a successful inaugural meeting and beckoned future meetings on a similar vein. |
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National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration
U.S. Department of Commerce
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On February 23, the SSC submitted a 30-page grant application for a NOAA B-WET Grant (Bay Watershed Education and Training). If successful, the grant will support a rich, multi-organization program, to teach 225 teachers, grades 5-12, in the science of climate change, sea level rise, and coastal erosion.
The sprint to our grant submission was led by Elizabeth Henderson (see spotlight above) and was nothing short of heroic. While Elizabeth led the way, it was very much a team effort, with major contributions from six SSC volunteers and contractors. In the span of less than two months, the SSC team assembled a coalition of six Bay Area nonprofits and two universities to participate in the delivery of the program. We are excited by Elizabeth's design of the program and the great partnerships it is creating.
We now wait until August 1st when grant winners will be announced.
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Letters of Support
The SSC's B-WET Grant application (see above), required Letters of Support from partnering organizations. We are deeply grateful to all our friends in the community who got behind the SSC in this effort. We were humbled by the supportive comments that came out in the letters. You can see the supporting organizations and their letters here. |
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The SSC updated its home page with a slide show that reflects our activities. Check it out! |
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The SSC YouTube channel hit 100 subscribers! Click here to subscribe, if you haven't done so yet. |
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The SSC is in discussions to support the SAIL GP Inspire program. More to come... |
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This Month's Newsletter Banner |
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A test version of the Navier 30 waits at the dock, on a cool, calm morning, prior to our sea trial February 21 st. We tested the boat's payload capacity, with riders from the SSC, Treasure Island Yacht Club, Treasure Island Sailing Center, and Capgemini. |
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Wanted for the Sailing Science Center |
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Photos
Do you have photos to share? The SSC is looking for shots to use on our website, in our newsletter, and elsewhere. Photographer attribution will be given.
Volunteers
The SSC needs volunteers! We especially need volunteers who can staff one-day exhibitions as docents. Training, lunch, and SSC logo polo shirts are provided.
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Here is the schedule for the next two months. Check our online calendar for the latest information.
Mar 19- ACP Composites Volunteer Tour
Apr 15-16 - Spring Fling Boat Show
Apr 29 - COTS Tall Ship Celebration
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These are things YOU can do to make a difference and Move the Needle
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Leadership Corner - Running Fast |
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Decades ago, when I was running triathlons, I trained brutally on the trail, the bike, and in the pool. With my running, in particular, I reached a plateau where I wasn’t getting any faster. More miles didn’t translate to more speed. And then I did something different that changed everything. Read more...
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New Volunteers
In February, Taylor Lacey raised her hand to help. Taylor met us at the Women's Sailing Seminar in September. She is a quality engineer at Apple, volunteers at the Exploratorium, and is interested in STEAM outreach. Welcome, Tracy!
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That's all for this month.
Cheers!
Jim Hancock
President and Founder
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The San Francisco Sailing Science Center is a Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation recognized under IRS Section 501(c)(3), Tax ID 82-3631165. Your donation to the Sailing Science Center is tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. |
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AN INTERACTIVE HANDS-ON LEARNING CENTER:
DELIGHTING “KIDS” FROM 5 TO 95
PROVIDING STEAM* LEARNING EXPERIENCES
FOCUSING ON THE PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATH
AND KEEPING IT FUN!!!
OUR THREE PILLARS
OCEAN HEALTH * STEAM EDUCATION * LEADERSHIP
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR
NATALIE CORKHILL
*STEAM – SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ART, AND MATH
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The Sailing Science Center News is published on the first business day of each month. It is sent to team members, partners, volunteers, sponsors and supporters of the San Francisco Sailing Science Center. You are receiving this because you are considered to be in one of these groups. If you wish to be removed from the mailing list, please click the Unsubscribe link below. We do not sell, share or otherwise give out our mailing list beyond our organization. |
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San Francisco Sailing Science Center
1 Avenue of the Palms, Ste 16A
San Francisco, CA 94130
510.390.5727
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