Foundation for Dubuque Public Schools Receives $3,100 Grant from Alliant Energy for New Physics Probes
DUBUQUE, IOWA—The Alliant Energy Foundation has awarded $3,100 to the Foundation for Dubuque Public Schools to purchase physics laboratory equipment at Hempstead and Senior High Schools.
Through the grant, Senior and Hempstead have both received new professional level volt meters, motion sensors, and speed detection devices for use in physics, global science, and other STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) classes. The new probes replace outdated equipment and provide an upgrade for the school labs. With a life cycle of at least 10 years, the probes will be used by thousands of Dubuque’s public school students.
The gift was requested by the Foundation for Dubuque Public Schools through the Alliant Energy Foundation’s Community Grant Program. The Community Grant program supports educational projects with a concentration on job training, mentoring, financial literacy, and STEM.
“The Dubuque Community School District is grateful to Alliant Energy and the Foundation for Dubuque Public Schools for the donation of 50 scientific probes.” said Randy Farnum, Dubuque Community School District science curriculum coordinator. “The probes will have a significant impact on our science classrooms, as they will be used to more accurately measure electrical forces, speed, acceleration, and motion. For example, labs involving acceleration will now use photogates to determine an object's acceleration. This will reduce the error caused by students using stopwatches, and allow the class to focus on the concept being taught, rather than explaining the errors in measurement. This donation will help move our science classrooms into a new phase of data collection and experimentation.”
For more information, contact Jennifer Klinkhammer, FDPS executive director, at Jennifer@dbqfoundation.org or 563.588.2700 or visit www.dbqfoundation.org/FDPS.
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The Foundation for Dubuque Public Schools (FDPS) promotes the importance of public education by increasing community investment for the enhancement of student achievement in the Dubuque Public Schools. FDPS board members and staff fulfill this mission by securing financial gifts and grants for school programs and projects that are not currently supported by public tax dollars. Learn more at www.dbqfoundation.org/FDPS