Information
Onizuka Space Science Day
Schedule - Saturday, March 15, 2025
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8:00 – 8:50am |
Registration (Marsee Auditorium) |
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9:00 – 9:05am |
Welcome from El Camino College |
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9:05 – 9:10am |
Introductions from Ellison S. Onizuka Memorial Committee |
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9:10 – 10:15am |
Keynote Address (Marsee Auditorium) |
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10:15 – 10:30am |
Q&A with the Keynote Speaker |
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10:30 – 10:45am |
Travel Time |
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10:45 – 11:30am |
Breakout Session A (Science Complex) |
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11:30 – 11:45am |
Travel Time |
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11:45 – 12:30pm |
Breakout Session B (Science Complex) |
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12:30 – 1:00pm |
Lunch (in front of Bookstore) |
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12:45pm |
Egg Drop Competition (outside on the east side of the Natural Science Building) |
Breakout Sessions
OPEN EVENTS (No tickets needed)
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ITEC Outdoor Area |
Robotics Demonstration Chris Hirunthanakorn – Instructor, Robotics (ECC) Victoria Martinez – Counselor, Industry &Technology (ECC) Come observe and participate in ECC student robotics competitions and demonstrations throughout the day with robots built by students like you! |
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Science Courtyard
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Get Your Hands on Chemistry Laura Saldarriaga – Professor, Chemistry (ECC) Judy Valle – Technician, Chemistry (ECC) Make squishy polymers, turn ink into a rainbow of colors, and set off a chemistry-powered rocket. Perform these science tricks and more in our amazing outdoor demonstrations! |
TICKETED EVENTS (Tickets Available On Site after Check-In)
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1 A/B Chem 105
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Who’s Counting? Marlow Lemons – Dean, Mathematical Sciences (ECC) Compete for prizes by playing math games! Use logic, teamwork, and numerical ability to win fun contests. Hear about one mathematician’s journey to falling in love with numbers and becoming a math major. |
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2 A/B Nats 218 |
Solving the Mystery of the Owl’s Dinner Mia Dobbs & Travis Ramp – Professors, Anatomy/Physiology (ECC) Experience how paleontologists and forensic scientists solve mysteries of the past and present. Using detailed observations, you will collect, identify and piece together the skeletal remains of an owl’s dinner victim. |
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3 A/B Chem 164
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Paint Making – Prussian Blue Pete Doucette – Professor, Chemistry (ECC) Ann Pham – Laboratory Technician (ECC) Prussian blue is an intense blue pigment used in crayons, poster paint and blueprints. Students will make and keep a sample of poster paint. *Caution – Hands and clothing may get blue stains. Participants must be in 6th grade or older. |
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4 A/B Chem 101
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Lava Lamps! Employees of Torrance Refining Company Bubble, bubble, toil and trouble! Design and create lava lamps and learn how density affects materials like liquids. Learn how the oil refining process creates products of different densities. |
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5 A/B Nats 127
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Strawberry DNA Timothy Reonisto – Lecturer, Biology (ECC) Deoxyribonucleic acid is the double-helical molecule that carries your genetic instructions. In this workshop, you’ll learn how to extract and purify the DNA from strawberries using household items. Come and play with the molecule of life! |
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6 A/B Nats 129
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The World of Insects Bryan Carey – Professor, Biology (ECC) Insects are extremely beneficial to the environment. Come view live and preserved insects in the ECC insect collection. You will learn about a few of the benefits and services insects provide mankind and the environment. |
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7 A/B Nats 206
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Fossils, Gemstones, and Minerals Jwan Wageman– Professor, Geology (ECC) Where are the best places to hunt fossils? What incredible treasures might you find? Students will participate in the hands-on identification of fabulous fossils, gems, and minerals, and learn the secrets of fossil hunters and other geology superstars! |
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8 A/B LS 130
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The Buzz on Space “Bugs” Michael Stupy – Professor Emeritus, Microbiology (ECC) Learn about weird and wonderful mutated space microbes. These tiny organisms are stowaways and hitchhikers into space! Learn college microscope techniques and explore a tiny world. |
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9 A/B Phys 108
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Vibing with Sound Waves: Build a Speaker Math, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) Program (ECC) Have you ever wondered how a TV, computer or phone turns music into sound that your ears can hear? Build your own speaker from common materials and discover how speakers convert electrical energy into sound. |
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10 A/B Chem 162 |
Chemical Magic Show Wesley Hillman – Instructor, Chemistry (ECC) Learn the science behind some incredible explosions, color changes, and chemistry-powered fountains! Get inspired by dazzling and unforgettable science demonstrations. |
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11 A/B Chem 133 |
NASA Missions to Mars Paul Yun – Professor, Mathematics (ECC) The red planet has captured our imagination for centuries. From ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Chinese astronomers, to NASA scientists of today, learn about the history of our fascination with Mars. Explore past, present, and future Mars missions, and experience a demonstration of the Pathfinder landing in 1997. |
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12 A/B Phys 112
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Puzzlers in Everyday Physics Zeke Murdock & Paul Haitkin – Professors, Physics (ECC) Bicycle wheels, balls, cow magnets and more – predict and then see the results of amazing popular demonstrations in physics. Participants must be in 6th grade or older. |
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13 A/B Planetarium
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Stars, Planets, and Constellations (Planetarium and Telescope Show) Shimonee Kadakia & Azul Celeste Rodriguez & Susan Stolovy – Professors, Physics and Astronomy (ECC) See what’s up in the sky! You will learn names of easy-to-find stars, constellations, and planets visible tonight. See a fireball, a meteor shower, and other celestial objects. For the other half of the show, you will explore the workings of telescopes and view the Sun (weather permitting). A young astronomer’s delight! |
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14 A/B LS 113 |
The Human Body—An Amazing Machine Merium Mubarak – Professor, Anatomy & Physiology (ECC) Experience a state-of-the-art 3D digital cadaver, just like those used in medical schools! |
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15 A/B LS 105
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Blood—The Liquid Lifesaver Rebecca Hernandez - Professor, Anatomy (ECC) Blood is the liquid of life. It transports oxygen to our lungs and tissues, carries antibodies to fight infections, and helps filter toxins from our bodies. Learn about the important field of Hematology (Blood Science), and create a model of blood to take home. |
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16 A/B LS 134
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Eyes on the Solar System NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassadors Explore the planets, their moons, asteroids, comets and the spacecraft exploring them from 1950 to 2050. Ride with the Perseverance Rover as it lands on Mars or check out the Webb Space Telescope as it sends back its first images—all from the comfort of your computer. |
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17 A/B Chem 165 |
Make Your Own Spectroscope! Shanna Potter – Professor, Chemistry (ECC) Investigate different types of light. After constructing your own spectroscope, examine light coming from a variety of sources including the sun, neon lamps, and fluorescent light bulbs. See how different elements glow in unique colors and use your spectroscope to identify unknown elements! |
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18 A/B Phys 101
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Animals in the Wild Max Amaya Munoz – Instructor, Biology (ECC) How do zoologists research wild animals? Students will have the opportunity to try telemetry gear, wildlife cameras, specialized binoculars, and microscopes. Learn the secrets of scientists who study creatures in their natural habitats.
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19 A/B Chem 103 |
Fire and Ice Alissa Sasayama – Professor, Chemistry (ECC) Use chemistry to explore the properties of ice and dry ice. Extinguish a flame using solid carbon dioxide, make a colorful bubbling potion, and create some sweet sorbet you can eat! |
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20 A/B Nats 219 |
Ocean Corals, Shells, Sands, and Sharks! Danielle Glynn & Staryl McCabe-Glynn – Lecturers, Earth Sci (ECC) Delve into a marine learning adventure! Craft coral reefs from Play-Doh, paint oyster shells, create sand art to explore coastal ecosystems, and engage in a shark tooth scavenger hunt. Blend creativity and education for an understanding of coral reefs, shells, sands, and sharks. Plus, you get to keep a shark tooth! |
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21 A/B Nats 205
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Geography Escape Room Julienne Gard – Professor, Geography (ECC) Dr. Wicked has a plan to blow up the world! Solve geography-based puzzles to escape and save the planet from doom! Using maps, globes, and GIS, stop this evil genius and be a hero. |
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22 A/B Chem 153
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Brilliant Biotechnology Eduardo Ayala – Professor, Biology (ECC) Biotechnology is an exciting field with implications for every aspect of our lives! In this session, students will apply biotechnology techniques, including pipetting, extractions, chromatography and electrophoresis, to the analysis of dyes from candies. Additionally, students will observe the migration of DNA by agarose gel electrophoresis. Join us to learn more about how biotechnology shapes our world! Participants must be in 6th grade or older. |
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23 A/B Phys 109
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Egg Drop Construction Sanda Oswald – Professor, Biology (ECC) Ernie Kwok – Lecturer, Biology (ECC) Each pair of students will design and construct a device to safely deliver an egg dropped from 34 feet. The science of the drop will be discussed. During lunch, all the devices will be entered in the Egg Drop Competition and dropped from the roof of the NS building. Prizes will be awarded to successful designers. Participants must be in 3rd grade or older. |
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24 A/B LS 108 |
The US Space Force Journey to Space US Space Force Space Systems Command Join a group of US Space Force professionals to learn how satellites are launched. Be a Space Launch Director and command the launch of a model rocket that you create. Live your dreams and send your paper rocket soaring! |
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25 A/B Phys 114 |
BYOB (Build Your Own Bridge) Columbia Memorial Space Center Staff Explore the ingenious engineering of Leonardo da Vinci. Build a bridge using Leonardo’s extraordinary 15th-century design principles. You will be able to recreate your bridge at home to amaze your friends! |
From the Ellison S. Onizuka Memorial Committee
Dear Participant,
Welcome to the annual Astronaut Ellison S. Onizuka Memorial Lecture Series. Astronaut Onizuka had many dreams – one of which was to help inspire the youth of America to strive for and achieve their career goals. This lecture series was developed in his memory to realize this dream by creating a forum for young people to gather information and receive guidance in the various options available in science-related careers.
We are fortunate to have as our keynote speaker NASA Astronaut Michael Reed Barratt. In addition, the lecture series will feature many other prominent authorities who will present topics ranging from planetarium shows to a satellite demonstration.
We hope that this program will not only help you to learn more about the space frontiers, but also to help you to focus on your future endeavors here on Earth. Enjoy and learn.
The Board of Directors
Astronaut Ellison S. Onizuka Memorial Committee
Astronaut Ellison S. Onizuka
June 24, 1946 – January 28, 1986
Your vision is not limited by what your eye can see, but by what your mind can imagine. Make your life count – and the world will be a better place because you tried. –Ellison S. Onizuka
Imagine a young boy on a small island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, laying on his back, staring at a star-speckled sky, and dreaming. Dreaming of someday going higher than the birds, high enough to reach and touch those distant stars above.
Following this dream, Astronaut Ellison S. Onizuka became the first Asian-American astronaut to fly in space and blazed a path that began on that small island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean to the heavens above the Earth.
Ellison was born on June 24, 1946, in Kona, Hawaii, a simple rural community. From these humble beginnings, Ellison formulated his dream of venturing into space.
Ellison excelled in school, graduating from Konawaena High School with honors in 1964. He was also active in the 4-H Club, student council, National Honor Society, yearbook, varsity basketball and baseball, and Boy Scouts.
After graduating from high school, Ellison attended the University of Colorado, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in aeronautical engineering in 1968, and a Master of Science degree in aerospace engineering in 1969. He joined the United States Air Force as a flight engineer in 1970, and attended the Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base in California.
Against stiff competition (8,000 applicants), Ellison was selected in 1978 as one of 35 astronauts for NASA’s Space Shuttle Program. He was the first Japanese-American selected to participate in America’s space program.
Ellison’s dreams came to fruition after years of training and hard work. On January 24, 1985, Ellison first entered space as part of the crew of the space shuttle Discovery – America’s first classified manned military space flight. The mission was a success, and Ellison was honored as the first Asian-American astronaut to venture into space.
Soon after, Ellison was selected for Challenger Flight 51-L along with six other crew members: Dick Scobee, Mike Smith, Ronald McNair, Judith Resnik, Greg Jarvis, and Christa McAuliffe. The crew of this mission was carefully chosen to reflect the spirit of America. All walks of life, backgrounds, and regions were represented on this shuttle flight, including elementary school teacher Christa McAuliffe, who would be the first civilian in space. On January 28, 1986, the space shuttle Challenger lifted from the earth. At 11:39 a.m., 73 seconds after liftoff, the orbiter tragically exploded, ending seven lives of ambitions, dreams, and courage.
Ellison’s story does not end here. In honor of Ellison’s memory, the Astronaut Ellison S. Onizuka Memorial Committee was formed by a group of concerned citizens from the Southern California community. The committee initiated this program so that the following message from Astronaut Onizuka would be heard by future generations:
If I can impress upon you only one idea . . . Let it be that the people who make this world run, whose lives can be termed successful, whose names will go down in the history books, are not the cynics, the critics, or the armchair quarterbacks.
They are the adventurists, the explorers, and doers of this world. When they see a wrong or problem, they do something about it. When they see a vacant place in our knowledge, they work to fill that void.
Rather than leaning back and criticizing how things are, they work to make things the way they should be. They are the aggressive, the self-starters, the innovative, and the imaginative of this world.
Every generation has the obligation to free men’s minds for a look at new worlds . . . to look out from a higher plateau than the last generation.
Your vision is not limited by what your eye can see, but by what your mind can imagine. Many things that you take for granted were considered unrealistic dreams by previous generations. If you accept these past accomplishments as commonplace then think of the new horizons that you can explore. From your vantage point, your education and imagination will carry you to places which we won’t believe possible.
Make your life count – and the world will be a better place because you tried.–Ellison S. Onizuka, 1980
Acknowledgments
Astronaut Ellison S. Onizuka Memorial Committee Board of Directors
- Dr. Tim Stowe–President
- Dan Tani–Vice President
- Valerie Takata-Secretary
- Dene Matsuzawa-Treasurer
- Dr. Kelsey Iino–Treasurer
- Dr. Amy Grant
- Scott Kushigemachi
- Darien Onizuka-Morgan
- Stephan Morikawa
- Paul Nitake
- Janelle Onizuka-Gillilan
- Andrea Sala
- Douglas G. Tennant, Legal Advisor
The Astronaut Ellison S. Onizuka Memorial Committee gratefully acknowledges our donors and volunteers without whose participation this program would not be possible.
El Camino College Onizuka Space Science Day Planning Committee
- Julieta Arambeuro
- Dr. Amy Grant
- Dr. Kelsey Iino
- Andrea Sala
Institutions
- American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
- El Camino College Foundation
- Chevron Corporation
- NASA Johnson Space Center, Texas
- Driscoll Strawberry Associates, Inc.
Individuals
- Dr. Brenda Thames, Superintendent/President, El Camino College
- Dr. Carlos Lopez, Vice President of Academic Affairs, El Camino College
- Audrey Kono, American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
- Claude Onizuka (brother of Astronaut Ellison S. Onizuka)
Session Contributors
Max Amaya Munoz, Eduardo Ayala, Elizabeth Bermudez, Bryan Carey, John Coroneus, Mia Dobbs, Pete Doucette, Julienne Gard, Danielle Glynn, Paul Haitkin, Rebecca Hernandez, Wesley Hillman, Christopher Hirunthanakorn, Shimonee Kadakia, Ernie Kwok, Marlow Lemons, Victoria Martinez, Staryl McCabe-Glynn, Merium Mubarak, Zeke Murdock, Sanda Oswald, Ann Pham, Shanna Potter, Travis Ramp, Timothy Reonisto, Azul Celeste Rodriguez, Laura Saldarriaga, Alissa Sasayama, Susan Stolovy, Michael Stupy, Judy Valle, Jwan Wageman, Paul Yun
El Camino College Science Students, NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassadors, US Space Force Systems Command, Employees of Torrance Refining Company
Lecture Series Goals
- To increase our youth’s interest in space science and related fields.
- To foster awareness of educational and career opportunities in these fields.
- To carry on Astronaut Ellison S. Onizuka’s passion for helping students by sharing his dreams, describing career opportunities, urging them to do their very best, emphasizing the importance of education in fulfilling goals and dreams, sharing the excitement of the U.S. space program, and inspiring them to appreciate the greatness of our country.
Important Links
Be prepared for our event by checking out the following links:
- View Directions to El Camino College and explore our interactive campus map.
- Learn more about Ellison Onizuka and the rest of the Challenger crew at the Onizuka Memorial site.
About the Event
The Ellison S. Onizuka Memorial Committee, El Camino College, and Honda sponsor this free, hands-on conference. This year marks the 39th anniversary of the Space Shuttle Challenger accident that took the lives of the seven crew members, including Ellison Onizuka.
Questions?
Please email spaceday@elcamino.edu.