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Vernier would like to congratulate the 2009 award winners for their innovative ideas for the use of data-collection technology. These seven were judged by a panel of experts, appointed by NSTA, to be the best in their respective categories. The winners were formally recognized at the NSTA Awards Banquet in New Orleans.

It’s not too early to start planning your 2010 entry. Learn more about the award »

View the 2009 NSTA/Vernier Technology Award Winners »

We celebrated Pi day one day early this year. Since we’re all taking Saturday off and no one wanted to wake up at 1:59 A.M., we decided to enjoy a variety of pies in the office on Friday afternoon instead. We hope everyone enjoys a slice of pie to celebrate with us!

We’re please to release the latest update for LabQuest. This version 1.2 update is a major software upgrade and recommended for all LabQuest users.

Top New Features

• New sensor support, such as Vernier GPS Sensor
• Support for My LabQuest Library
• Audio out beats
• Delta calculation tool

See the full list of enhancements and download the 1.2 update, free for all LabQuest users.

LabQuest 1.2 Update »

Logger Pro 3.7 is now available. Version 3.7 new features include support for the Vernier GPS Sensor, 64-bit Vista, and has much improved time-of-day graphing.

Logger Pro 3.7 is a free update to all Logger Pro 3 users.

Download the update »

On December 7, 2008, 20 volunteers from Vernier donated their time and talents to OPB by answering phones and taking pledges. They raised $3,825 in pledges to support OPB’s programming.

Our 2009 catalog is on the way to our customers now. Check out these featured items that are new for 2009:

• Power Amplifier
• Wide-Range Temperature Probe
• Vernier GPS Sensor
• STEM with Vernier® and LEGO® MINDSTORMS® NXT
• My LabQuest Library
• Bumper and Launcher Kit
• Netbook Support

If you are already on our mailing list, you will receive a copy soon. If not, sign up for our mailing list or download the catalog PDF.

Download and evaluate over 400 Vernier Labs for free! The student sections of all of our lab activities show you how use Vernier technology in the classroom.

The data were taken by a bunch of teachers on the way from the Oregon Convention Center to our office for a tour on November 20, 2008. Verle Walters was their mentor. The data was taken with a LabQuest and our new Vernier GPS Sensor (coming in 2009).

Download the GPS data for Logger Pro »

The Worlddidac Award was presented to Vernier Software & Technology in Basel, Switzerland earlier this month. An international jury of education experts selected LabQuest for its innovation, quality, pedagogic value, ease of use, and overall value.

We wish everyone a fun and safe Halloween! Here were some of the creative costumes at the office this year.

Priest, Injured Finger Man, and Scary Saw Killer

Laundry service at Vernier

Vernier Beauty Pageant: Miss Understood, Miss Terious, Miss Chief, Miss Fortune, Miss Fit, Miss Read, and Miss Spell

We’re pleased to announce an update to our online purchasing guide! We’ve streamlined the web interface, added more customization options, and made it easier for you to come back and change your recommendation.

Key Features:

• Get the lab books, hardware, and software you need for hands-on science experiments
• Friendly step-by-step guide
• Customize your recommendation to your exact needs and budget requirements
• Save and share your recommendation with a personalized web link or a PDF

The Vernier Purchasing Guide is our web wizard to help you determine what you need to set up your classroom with data-collection technology. It takes you step by step through each of the components and generates a personalized recommendation based on your needs. You can also customize the recommendation to fit your budget, update quantities, or add accessories.

It is a great tool for teachers and technology coordinators determine the equipment they need to enhance their science classrooms.

Try it and let us know what you think! Vernier Purchasing Guide »

We were thrilled and honored to have Senator Barack Obama visit Vernier today. It was a private event for Vernier employees and the press. Senator Obama’s comments were about the economy. He then answered our questions about NCLB, how to better fund education, how to make college more affordable, etc. It was exciting from the moment the secret service arrived to the time he and the press left.

Christine got a phone call on Wednesday night, May 7th, asking if we would be interested in hosting Obama at Vernier. Well, yes, we would! The Obama advance staff came out to the office an hour later and looked over the office. They said we were in the running and that they would call that night. No call. The next morning, they called and said we were it. We had 24 hours to get ready. The staff came out with a Secret Service guy dressed in a black suit and looking like the Secret Service. He walked the office with our newly-appointed Head of Security (David Vernier) and all the plans were made. We were not allowed to tell anyone, not even our employees. (Of course some suspected something, especially when the fancy flagpoles and six large American flags arrived.). About a dozen Obama staff arrived at 4:30 pm Thursday and they worked until 8:30 pm, setting up seating, special lighting, and a powerful sound system. They set up two stages with drapery and flags for the press to conduct interviews.

Sound and lighting equipment setup.

Press stage in the gym.

The morning of the event, 10 Secret Service people and the Obama staff arrived, along with a ton of police officers. They kicked us all out of the building for an hour so they could check it with dogs. The press were milling around outside asking us questions. (Amazingly, it wasn’t raining.) There were about five huge press satellite trucks in our parking lot and some people lining up on the street. The word had gotten out.

Setting up a satellite signal from our parking lot.

We had to evacuate the building for an hour and had sniffer dogs search the building.

We filed back into the office through a metal detector–employees only. We were all set up in the main lobby of our building. The press were then allowed in–about 7 big cameras and 75 press people. (It was pretty crowded in our lobby!) Senator Obama arrived on a bus and chatted with both of us for a little while. We also met his brother-in-law, who is the new basketball coach for Oregon State University. We talked about our company, our basketball court (Barack likes basketball), our green building, the company culture, etc. Then we walked in with him to where all the employees were sitting.

Only one entrance was opened, with security guards and a metal detector.

The press surrounded us with their microphones, cameras, and camcorders.

One of our tech support people, Verle Walters, introduced him, and then Senator Obama gave a 20 minute speech about the economy. Our employees asked some really good questions–about education, health care, his running mate, etc. Obama was just as we expected: smart, funny, and so gracious to our employees. He shook hands, signed autographs, and had pictures taken with everyone who wanted to do so.

Vernier tech support specialist Verle Walters introduced Senator Barack Obama.

Obama spoke about current issues and answered our questions.

Obama finished his visit with us by shaking hands, signing autographs, and taking pictures.

He then went into our small conference room (set up with flags and a backdrop) for individual press interviews. He was here for another hour or so doing those. Again, the press were milling around interviewing us and getting statements. He thanked the two of us again as he left and we had our picture taken with him. We even got him to sign a LabQuest.

Wow, what a day!
Christine & Dave Vernier

Read more about Obama’s vist:

• Oregonlive.com
• Portland Tribune
• Willamette Week
• YouTube Clip 1
• YouTube Clip 2

Vernier and Ocean Optics will team up again this summer to offer a two-day spectroscopy workshop, entitled “Spec 101”. The workshop will be held on June 18 and 19 at the Ocean Optics headquarters in Dunedin, Florida.

It is an excellent opportunity for teachers to see the latest in spectroscopy technology and obtain valuable hands on experience with a wide variety of laboratory experiments. Last summer’s inaugural workshop was a rousing success, and this year’s is shaping up to be even better. Please visit the Ocean Optics education website for all the details and registration.

Aloha!

There are free, hands-on Vernier workshops coming to the Hawaiian Islands this summer. Vernier trainer and former physics teacher, David Carter, will be conducting a series of workshops to teach you how to integrate data-collection technology (probeware) into your chemistry, biology, physics, math, elementary science, middle school science, physical science, and Earth science curriculum. David is also the co-author of Elementary Science with Vernier and an avid science enthusiast. Look out Hawaii, David’s technology training will jump start your summer!

All workshops will feature Vernier’s state-of-the art interface, the Vernier LabQuest. Participants will have a chance to collect data with LabQuest in stand-alone mode as well as connected to a computer. Looking to collect data with a TI calculator? Just let David know, and he will be happy to show you.

Oahu at the Mid-Pacific Institute
June 12th from 1-5 pm
Join us for four hours of engaging activities. Geared toward high school and college sciences, this workshop will increase your technical skill with sensor technology and spark new ways to develop your students’ data analysis skills. Do you teach elementary or middle school? Feel free to attend and ask for activities appropriate to your grade level.
Register for this workshop »

Oahu at the Mid-Pacific Institute
June 13th from 8am-12 pm
This four-hour workshop will teach you how to use sensors in your K-8 science studies. You will explore topics including temperature, light, magnetism, force, and motion using Vernier probes. Do you teach high school or college science? Feel free to attend and ask for experiments suited to the subject you teach.
Register for this workshop »

Maui at Seabury Hall
June 16th 1-5 pm
Liven up your summer plans with a four-hour workshop with Vernier. Science teachers from middle school through college will have the chance to explore data-collection technology specific to the science disciplines they teach.
Register for this workshop »

Big Island of Hawaii at Hawaii Preparatory Academy
June 19th 1-5 pm
Liven up your summer plans with a four-hour workshop with Vernier. Science teachers from middle school through college will have the chance to explore data-collection technology specific to the science disciplines they teach.
Register for this workshop »

Mahalo!