In addition to appreciating that science can precisely forecast when an eclipse will occur and explain why it is occurring, Ray hopes that students will leave the eclipse with a sense of wonder. “This event is a fantastic chance to inspire the future generation to embrace science. Though science is sometimes seen as a dry topic by students, we can demonstrate here that science actually affects their daily life.
Ray worked with the Western Region of the New York State Parent Teacher Association, as well as the Buffalo Community PTA , to get the glasses into the hands of school officials. The glasses have been distributed to the Lackawanna, Orchard Park, Pembroke and Sweet Home school districts; Erie 1 BOCES; CHC Learning Center; as well as the Elmwood Village, Enterprise, Global Concepts, Persistence Preparatory Academy, Reach Academy, Buffalo Commons, West Buffalo, King Center, Buffalo United, and Tapestry charter schools. Glasses have also been given to Delavan Grider Community Center and Resource Council of Western New York.
With many school districts canceling classes on the day of the eclipse, it’s likely students will be sent home with the glasses.
“I hope students get a sense of wonder from the eclipse and appreciate that science can predict exactly when it’s going to happen and explain why it’s happening,” Ray says. “This event is a great opportunity to instill a love of science in the next generation. Students sometimes view science as something of a dry subject, but here we can show them that it has real implications on their everyday lives.”
Specialized glasses, like those provided by the NSF, are required to safely view the eclipse. Glasses can be removed only during totality, the brief period when the moon completely blocks the sun.
Western New York will experience totality for over three minutes, from 3:18 to 3:21 p.m., but UB ophthalmologists suggest only removing your glasses during the two minutes of peak totality, which will last from about 3:19 to 3:
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