The Delmar T. Ovitatt Library and Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) partnered up again to bring California State University, Northridge a Pi Day celebration on March 14.
Attendees experienced a multitude of activities, including a three-dimensional printer, more than 15 flavors of free pie, a “making pie” demonstration and networking with CSUN organizations such as CSUN Women in Science, Building Infrastructure Leading to Diversity Promoting Opportunities for Diversity in Education and Research (BUILD PODER) and CSUN VEX Robotics Club, colloquially known as the Matabots.
CSUN Women in Science had participants use pi to find the volume of live sea urchins—which they had at their table in a small bowl of water. CSUN Women in Science also had dry urchins and wanted participants to guess how many urchins (live and dry) would fit into the pie they had at the table.
BUILD PODER, a research program for undergraduates funded by the National Institutes of Health, had a table encouraging students to apply to the program in January 2018.
Gabriela Rivera, a public health major and member of BUILD PODER, advised students to consider being involved in research.
“Although we may have come to college to have fun, we ultimately came to receive higher education,” Rivera said. “BUILD PODER offers a community of emotional and financial support as well as personal growth.”
The CSUN VEX Robotics Club, which recently won a robotics tournament held at University of Southern California, showcased its robot and let audience members control the robot.
Adrian Castellon, president of the CSUN VEX Robotics Club, encouraged students of all majors to think about joining the Matabots.
“Our team is actually composed of different majors. We are not limited to just mechanical engineering or electrical engineering, or even just engineering,” Castellon said. “We have members who are majoring in merchandise, marketing and a journalism major.”
Although the Oviatt Library and WISE sponsored this event, Alexandria Chavez, a WISE intern, was largely responsible for organizing this event and hoped that attendees had fun.
“I hope that everyone had fun while learning about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.”