I’ve had the privilege of volunteering for a few organizations focused around science and engineering, and I think they have all taught me a lot about myself, and given me real life experiences! If you’re interested in learning more about STEM and gaining some experience in science-related fields, check out some of these opportunities. I […]
Archives for December 2018
Are carrots really orange?
A few days ago, I decided to take carrots to school as a snack. As I was munching away, I wondered if the carrots I was eating were grown and produced in the same way that their carrot ancestors had been. Wanting to learn more, I decided to research the history of carrots. A bundle of carrots […]
Why Can’t Robots Walk Like Humans?
Have you ever found yourself lighting up the dance floor with the robot dance? Well, chances are that this dance requires one to move in very straightforward and one-dimensional movements, making it seem as though motors are spinning and stopping. Upon further inspection of this dance, I wondered why robots have to move that way. As […]
Walking a Tightrope
I have many irrational fears like spiders, small spaces and tiny little holes that are too close together. However, heights, which is quite a reasonable fear to have, is not one of them. My liking of heights is only present when I feel safe or secure. When I rock climb and zip line, I have […]
Health Benefits of Playing Music
Music Man © Pxhere, CC0 1.0 My passion for music began at a young age when I started playing piano. This lasted for many years until I decided that I wanted to learn guitar; so in grade 7 I learned my second instrument. Two years later I began playing drums, which has so far been […]
Machine Learning and Deep Learning in Robots
Recently, the FSL Year 2 Engineering Stream has been working on building robotic vehicles made from 3D printed parts and circuitry in conjunction with two microbit controllers. As of current, these robots utilize the positioning of the microbit controller to determine whether to go forward, backward or to stop. For example, if the user tilts […]
Artificial Intelligence: Unravelling the Present by Predicting the Future
This past June, Google’s DeepMind developed a neural network capable of creating a three dimensional rendering from a single image. Named the Generative Query Network (GQN), the artificial intelligence (AI) can infer the entire layout of a virtual room without human interference. To do so, it uses the lighting, texture, and locations of objects to […]
What Came Before the Big Bang?
As I was reading Neil Degrasse Tyson’s Astrophysics for People in a Hurry, one of Tyson’s first chapters was a thorough explanation and timeline into the birth of the universe. However, I found it interesting that the book assumed the Big Bang was the first step. There must have been something else before our universe. […]
Music on the Brain
I do not, in any circumstance, consider myself a musical person. I played the recorder in grade four, the flute in grade six and the acoustic guitar in grade seven, but played none of them well. Hot Cross Buns was about the extent of my musical knowledge and capability. Despite my lack of musical talent, […]