February 2, 2012
News digest: Foldit first from Science, register for summer youth programs
Science awards Foldit a first
Foldit, a protein-folding game developed by UW computer scientists and biochemists, has won Science magazines 9th annual International Science & Engineering Visualization Challenge. The UW entry won first place in the Interactive Games category. Winning entries can be viewed online and in the Feb. 3 print issue.
Though Foldits primary goal is to solve scientific problems, its methods mesh well with the contests aim of communicating science to broad audiences, said Seth Cooper, creative director at the UWs Center for Game Science.
“We want to harness the power of the human mind to be able to solve these problems, but to get as many minds as possible to help out we want to make the material as approachable and clear as we can,” Cooper said. “We need to teach people the rules of the game, which happen to be all about proteins.”
Registration opens for Robinson Center summer programs
The UWs Robinson Center offers students grades five to 10 a combination of vigorous academics and summer fun with its Summer Challenge Program.
Students finishing fifth or sixth grades will meet from 9 a.m. to 2:20 p.m. weekdays, July 9-27 and can take classes such as “The Incredible World of Plants” or “Puget Sound 2050” –which combines science research and theater production to increase understanding of the region – and even visit the Theo Chocolate Factory. Registration opens Feb. 6. for this program
Students finishing seventh through ninth grades may enroll in Summer Stretch, a series of classes designed to provide intensive instruction in a fast-paced curriculum. Classes are from 9 a.m. to 2:20 p.m. weekdays June 25 to July 27. Stretch students build robots in a class called “Physics: Rockets & Robotics” and explore the strategies of persuasion in “Argument and Debate.” Registration will open on March 5.
Qualifying scores on the MSP or ACT/SAT are required for admission.
