Poetry of Science : ‘Imagineering’ Students Set Sail on Voyage of Discovery in CSUN Enrichment Class

There is physics, chemistry and calculus in this. Economics, history and ethics too. Of that, you’ll be spared all but the necessary details.

But, ah, the sociology. What the experiment seemed to prove most of all was that, given the same design parameters, a group of bright young boys and a group of bright young girls will build two very different boats.

Maybe they didn’t look that different when they hit the water Thursday. Both were white and chunky and made of Styrofoam. Both had Soapbox Derby wheels and plastic handlebars so they could be propelled on land as well as sea.

But they came from quite different points of view.

To get to the bottom line up front, the boys’ vehicle was technologically superior. So said Al Squatrito, teacher of a class called “Imagineering” in the summer academic enrichment program at California State University, Northridge for grades six to 12.

Science Class With a Twist

But that’s not to say the girls had a lesser understanding of Imagineering.

“Imagination mixed with engineering,” one of them explained.

It’s a science class that seeks to motivate students by wrapping all the disciplines up in something fun, like building an amphibious vehicle. It’s broad enough to incorporate philosophy and physical education.

“We do tai chi before class because Al wants us to prepare our minds,” said Leah Kleiman, 13. “Some people in the course are more concerned about the academics than their physical condition. Al thinks of everything.”

She said Squatrito brought in some history too, focusing on Hitler and Nazism to show that science, unchecked by ethics, could lead to disaster. He also required each team to form and run an imaginary company, with a budget of $300,000, to manufacture their vehicles.

And, before either boat hit the water, it had to be designed on paper to carry 300 pounds.

Boys’ Design Wins Out

That seemed to be the realm of the boys. Brian Koo, 12, of Northridge described it roughly this way:

“We found the volume of the wood and the volume of the foam. We would have to divide it by three for the legal total,” Koo said. “Then we would take how much it could actually hold and divide with the total weight. Then you would multiply it by density per cubic foot.”

Somewhere in there the girls strayed from the design parameters. They got to thinking about the 40-pound battery that would power the boat’s electric motor.

“If the sulfuric acid hit the water, we would be cooked,” Kleiman said.

So they added more Styrofoam to their design.

“Then we got in trouble with Al,” said Tracy Fidell. “He said, ‘Bigger’s not better.’ ”

“He said, ‘Bigger’s not always better,’ ” teammate, Namita Rathi corrected.

On launching, the boys’ boat rode low in the water, like the Monitor. The girls’ had a superstructure, like the Merrimack.

First the boys took turns powering their boat with the motor while the girls rowed with a broom. Then the girls got the motor.

Throughout the test, both sides scrupulously resisted the temptation to join in tactical engagement.

If that battery hit the water, you know, they could be cooked.