Breakfast of Science Champions

Liquid nitrogen? Super conductors? If that sounds exciting, then Breakfast of Science Champions might be for you!

Liquid nitrogen demonstration picture The Breakfast of Science Champions offers Columbus City Schools middle school students the opportunity to explore science, math, and engineering at The Ohio State University in a program designed especially for them. Students spend a morning on campus and enjoy breakfast with faculty and graduate students from sciences, mathematics, and engineering to learn about career opportunities and attending college. Students then tour labs and participate in a variety of activities.

At the end of the school year, participants return to campus for a “virtual conference” and by utilizing video conferencing technology, students at different on and off-campus locations share what they have learned.

Winter 2013 Breakfast of Science Champions

The Winter 2013 Breakfast of Science Champions was held on February 27, 2013, with Columbus City Schools. We had nearly 300 students attending from ten area schools. We were very pleased to welcome students from Ridgeview Middle School, Woodward Park Middle School, Columbus Africentric Early College, Lincoln Park Elementary, Ecole Kenwood, Westmoor Middle School, Yorktown Middle School, Mifflin Middle School, South High School, and Arts Impact (AIMS) Middle School. BOSC would not be possible without the participation of our wonderful campus sites. In February, the students were able to visit eleven diverse host sites at OSU.

Students ask about jet engines during BOSC.
Students ask questions about jet engines at the OSU Airport during the Winter 2013 Breakfast of Science Champions.

A student prepares to try out a flight simulator at the OSU Airport during the Winter 2013 Breakfast of Science Champions.

Students discuss calculating fuel load at the OSU Airport during the Winter 2013 Breakfast of Science Champions.

A student sits behind the controls of a real plane at the OSU Airport during the Winter 2013 Breakfast of Science Champions.

Student flying in a simulator during BOSC.
A student trying her hand at the conrols of a flight simulator at the OSU Airport during the Winter 2013 Breakfast of Science Champions.

Students receive introduction to mapping a flight during BOSC.
Students discuss the different factors involved in mapping a flight during the Winter 2013 Breakfast of Science Champions.

Student tries out a flight simulator during BOSC.
A student takes a test flight in a simulator at the OSU Airport during the Winter 2013 Breakfast of Science Champions.

Fall 2012 Breakfast of Science Champions

The Fall 2012 Breakfast of Science Champions was held on November 7, 2012, with Columbus City Schools. It was a big success with more than 300 middle school students from 12 schools visiting 13 Ohio State host sites. The represented schools included Columbus Africentric School, Columbus City Preparatory School for Girls, Dominion Middle School, Ridgeview Middle School, Indianola Informal School, Yorktown Middle School, Medina Middle School, Livingston Avenue Middle School, Arts Impact (AIMS) Middle School, Sherwood Middle School, Fifth Avenue International Middle School, and Ecole Kenwood Middle School.

Students receiving gift bags during Fall 2012 Breakfast of Science Champions

Students at the Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Brain Imaging during the Fall 2012 Breakfast of Science Champions.

Students examine a model of the brain

Students examine a model of the brain at the CCBBI.

Students are shown a scorpion in the Arachnid Lab.

Students are shown a scorpion in the Arachnid Lab.

A student drives a flying fish through a hurdle.

A student drives a flying fish through a hurdle at the Center for Emergent Materials.

Students experiment with magnets at the Center for Emergent Materials during the Fall 2012 Breakfast of Science Champions

Students experiment with magnets at the Center for Emergent Materials during the Fall 2012 Breakfast of Science Champions

2011-12 Breakfast of Science Champions

In 2011-12, 133 middle school students from eight Columbus City Schools (Columbus Africentric School, Wedgewood Middle School, Columbus City Preparatory School for Girls, Columbus City Preparatory School for Boys, Berwick Alternative Elementary School, Dominion Middle School, Ridgeview Middle School and Indianola Informal School) participated in the Breakfast of Science Champions and had the chance to visit five exciting venues (Byrd Polar Research Center, Center for Emergent Materials, Nanoscale Science and Engineering Center, Neuroscience Graduate Studies Program, and OSU Airport), where students participated in many hands on learning activities.

At the Byrd Polar Research Center, students met with researchers and faculty doing important research. Students learned about ice core samples and arctic exploration.

students at CEM

Students at the Center for Emergent Materials.

The College of Arts and Sciences' ASCENT alumni magazine features an article about the February 2012 Breakfast of Science Champions event.

Previous Host Sites

More information on past and present Breakfast of Science Champions host sites can be found on these websites:

Department of Biomedical Engineering
Biological Sciences Greenhouse and Insectary
Byrd Polar Research Center
Center for Applied Plant Sciences
Department of Psychology, Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Brain Imaging
Center for Emergent Materials
Insect Molecular Genetics
Nanoscale Science and Engineering Center
Neuroscience Graduate Studies Program
Ohio 4-H Center
Ohio State Airport
College of Optometry
College of Veterinary Medicine
Wexner Medical Center
Women in Engineering Program

Ohio State researchers who would like to serve as host sites for the Breakfast of Science Champions may contact STEM Initiatives for more information.