FS2021 Pointless Prize: STEM

[Boomer Cycles]

Naval Research Laboratory, Black Walnut Point, Tilghman Island, MD

This site, which dates back to the weeks surrounding D-Day in World War II, is still used by the Department of the Navy for electronics research. The site includes a 75-foot observation tower. The sign at the site reads:

“This site was acquired by the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in August 1944. It was originally used for electronic warfare work and comprised more than 81 acres. Today this site covers 2 acres and consists of a 75-foot tower and several laboratory office and ship buildings. The observation tower is currently an active research facility, used extensively for radar and electro-optic services research. NRL often uses this site in conjunctin with its Chesapeake Bay Detachment, which is located approximately 9 miles across the Bay in Chesapeake Beach, MD.”

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[JoM]

Albert Einstein

Einstein is most well-known for his theory of relativity (e=mc²). Did you know that he also played the violin?

He was also a great supporter of civil rights and if he were alive today, he would be speaking out about public health issues.

[bikedavid]

The Carnegie Library of DC which is now an Apple store. The top part says science, poetry, and history and the bottom says “a university for the people.” There were about 2500 Carnegie libraries built by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. I’m assuming for many of the smaller towns and cities these were probably the first public libraries and one needs a literate population in order to be able to go on and do other things like study science and engineering. I didn’t realize that Carnegie also funded libraries outside of the US including the UK and Canada probably because of his Scottish heritage. Quite the feat!

[bikedavid]

Scottish Rite of Freemasonry on 16th St. This is modelled after the Greek Mausoleum at Halicarnassus which was considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Anicent World for their remarkable construction. Also quite interesting is that it is a lodge for Freemasons, a fraternal organization that originally started as stonemasons. The Ancient world and even the Renaissance relied heavily on stonemasons to build impressive and long lasting structures. Not sure if the Freemasons still learn masonry as part of their craft but we now have architects and engineers!

[bikedavid]

Saving the best for last: NASA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. It’s the US agency responsible for science and technology related to air and space. NASA led us to the moon and to explore other planets in our solar system and in the process spun off lots of technologies that we use everyday including solar cells and the CMOS image sensors used in all digital photography. Let’s see where NASA leads us to next!

[JoM]

Last STEM entry: Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens

Thanks for organizing, Bikesnick, it was good ti meet you last night!

Right off of the ART, make sure to visit the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens in the summer to see lotus flowers and water lilies! The blooms come early to mid-summer and peak in July. There’s a little museum, too, that talks about the plants and fauna.

[bikesnick]

Thank you to all 19 people who played. I really enjoyed reading your entries and seeing the pictures. I learned many new things (actually that was part of my goal hosting this competition) and now have new destinations for rides.

Remember, from the original post:
@bikesnick 203469 wrote:

FS2021 Pointless Prize: STEM
There are two non-pointless prizes:

For for greatest number of entries, a copy of BikeSnobNYC’s book “Systematically & Mercilessly Realigning the World of Cycling”.

For the best photo entry, subjectively selected by the judge, a set of four bicycle-printed short tumbler glasses (3.5 inch tall, 8 ounce).
* Please note: The judge is known to be partial to uniqueness, creativity, composition, and mathematics.

**** Congratulations to CBGanimal for the greatest number of entries (37)! You had so many finds. The Einstein mural and mini Atomium were favorites of mine.
(I can mail the book to you, or deliver it when you return. Please PM me with your choice.)

*** Congratulations to bikedavid for the best photo entry, and for the many entries that were more math-related or just resonated with me. The winning photo was The Cairo building at night. I always have liked that building, learned (from you) of the interesting history of its involvement with height restrictions in DC, and enjoyed the film noir aspect of the photo. Other entries which I found particularly interesting were: Newton Tree, IBM early building in Georgetown, McMillan sand filtration site, Volt Labs, red callboxes, autonomous driving car, and Capitalsaurus Court.
(Please PM me so we can arrange to meet for you to receive the prize.)

** Also, Congratulations to Jo M for having consistently good write-ups of STEM sites. For example: wind tunnel building, sundials, (MS)2 building, Edmonston Pumping Station, the door of the UMCP Robotics Realization Laboratory, and College Park Airport. Well done.
(There is a prize for you also. Please PM me to make arrangements for delivery.)

* Finally, honorable mention for the following people for interesting sites:

komorebi
– Einstein statue with circular base with star map (I did not know that)
– recognizing Benjamin Banneker’s contributions
– USPTO (great picture)

kbikeva
– NovaLabs in Reston with a maker space

nstasiak
– GMU observatory – 2nd largest telescope on east coast (wow)

Sophie CW
– rain barrel sign
– human sundial (!)
– historic pump house
– International Latitude Observatory (fascinating!)

NoVaNoobGA
– Population Health Center, obviously you are someone who likes “data data data!!”

Serdar
– propellers

Hannah Lili
– STEM in Florida, including getting to use an electron microscope

reji
– NSF

[CBGanimal]

@bikesnick 210258 wrote:

Thank you to all 19 people who played. I really enjoyed reading your entries and seeing the pictures. I learned many new things (actually that was part of my goal hosting this competition) and now have new destinations for rides.

Remember, from the original post:

**** Congratulations to CBGanimal for the greatest number of entries (37)! You had so many finds. The Einstein mural and mini Atomium were favorites of mine.
(I can mail the book to you, or deliver it when you return. Please PM me with your choice.)

*** Congratulations to bikedavid for the best photo entry, and for the many entries that were more math-related or just resonated with me. The winning photo was The Cairo building at night. I always have liked that building, learned (from you) of the interesting history of its involvement with height restrictions in DC, and enjoyed the film noir aspect of the photo. Other entries which I found particularly interesting were: Newton Tree, IBM early building in Georgetown, McMillan sand filtration site, Volt Labs, red callboxes, autonomous driving car, and Capitalsaurus Court.
(Please PM me so we can arrange to meet for you to receive the prize.)

** Also, Congratulations to Jo M for having consistently good write-ups of STEM sites. For example: wind tunnel building, sundials, (MS)2 building, Edmonston Pumping Station, the door of the UMCP Robotics Realization Laboratory, and College Park Airport. Well done.
(There is a prize for you also. Please PM me to make arrangements for delivery.)

* Finally, honorable mention for the following people for interesting sites:

komorebi
– Einstein statue with circular base with star map (I did not know that)
– recognizing Benjamin Banneker’s contributions
– USPTO (great picture)

kbikeva
– NovaLabs in Reston with a maker space

nstasiak
– GMU observatory – 2nd largest telescope on east coast (wow)

Sophie CW
– rain barrel sign
– human sundial (!)
– historic pump house
– International Latitude Observatory (fascinating!)

NoVaNoobGA
– Population Health Center, obviously you are someone who likes “data data data!!”

Serdar
– propellers

Hannah Lili
– STEM in Florida, including getting to use an electron microscope

reji
– NSF

Totally awesome Pointless Prize…I explored all of Madrid and had a great time doing it…thank you BIKESNICK!!!!

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[bikedavid]

Thank you for the pointless prize bikesnick and for organizing the game! It was a lot of fun searching for STEM related sites and to see everyone’s submissions. Congrats to CBGanimal and Jo M! I, too, learned of a lot of new destinations and would love to visit the Atomium in Madrid, the Glenn Martin wind tunnel building, and the GMU observatory!

[JoM]

David, whenever you want to ride up to College Park, let me know!

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[JoM]

Thank you Bikesnick for organizing #STEM it really is all over the place, some more obvious.

[Author]

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