Another important program for Chicago-area high school students is the annual Science Careers in Search of Women conference . In 2000, more than 225 students toured biology, chemistry, materials science and physics laboratories. At the same time they are expanding their environmental knowledge. First, students are trained to gather soil samples. Then Argonne tests the samples using a fluorescence X-ray apparatus to determine what elements are present.
Students can watch the online test as it is performed.
Once the students gather and analyze the data and complete the research, the findings are shared via the Internet with other students, teachers and scientists. Junior high and high school teachers attend Argonne workshops to learn to use the equipment and then may borrow it for classroom use. About 10,000 students use the equipment each academic year. The Northwestern University Institute for Environmental Chemistry and Argonne's Chemistry Division run the science van program, which is funded through the Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation . Helping teachers harness the power of the Internet is the Educational Networking Consortium.