Sweet Science Series: The Science of Roller Coasters and Rides

Registration required to attend

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Overview:
Do you wonder why amusement rides are such a thrill while also being safe? Join TACNY at the Great New York State Fair to learn about the physical properties and attributes which make a ride an exciting experience while also being safe. At least three different types of rides will be discussed during this event. Any parking and/or transportation costs are your responsibility, while admission into the Great NYS Fair is at no cost to you. Details about which gate we will meet at prior to entering the fairgrounds will be distributed to all registered attendees a day or two before the event.

Presenters:

• Ava Breitbeck is a Postdoctoral Associate in the Department of Physics at Cornell University. She recently graduated from Syracuse University with her PhD in Science Teaching, where she was also a teaching assistant in the Physics Department. Currently, she teaches introductory physics courses at Cornell, and engages in science teaching and communication consulting and other professional development. She is proud to have been born and raised in Central New York.
• Walter Freeman is a Teaching Professor in the Physics Department at Syracuse University. He earned his Ph.D. in Physics from Arizona University and has been teaching at SU since 2015. Walter’s teaching emphasizes active learning methods in large courses, recruitment and mentoring of junior instructors, building inspiration and enthusiasm among students, and the use of computational physics across the curriculum. In 2020, Walter won the Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Teaching Recognition Award for Early Career Performance at Syracuse University.
• Paul Falchi currently serves as Program Manager for the New York State Department of Labor – Division of Safety and Health Industry Inspection Bureau. The bureau is responsible for enforcement of several NYS Code Rules including ICR45 encompassing Amusement Devices. Mr. Falchi received a bachelor’s degree in business management from Kettering University in Flint Michigan. Paul began his career with New York State in June 2006, transitioning to the Division of Safety and Health in June 2013. He has proudly spent more than a decade traveling the state conducting inspections to help ensure the safety of New Yorkers.