WESTFIELD – Munger Hill first grader Kaitlynn Goulette may be just six years-old, but she’s making a name for herself in scientific circles.
A video of the budding scientist asking former NOVA ScienceNow host Neil deGrasse Tyson how first graders can help the earth has gone viral and people around the world know Kaitlynn Goulette’s name.
Kaitlynn attended a conference with Tyson at the College of the Holy Cross two weeks ago with her father Don and they talked about what she would ask the astrophysicist if given the chance.
“We waited on line four hours – we were first in line – and we talked about what we would want to ask him,” said Don. “He kept walking by us and I knew when he sat down next to her that she would get to talk to him.”
Kaitlynn was front and center in the auditorium when she asked Tyson how she and her fellow first graders could help the earth. Tyson basically told her to just explore the world.
“When I was in first grade I was curious about things so here’s what I think you should do,” he said, “Just be a kid and explore things. You’re actually doing experiments.”
Tyson asked if Kaitlynn ever went in the kitchen and banged on pots and pans. He said that was actually an experiment. Hearing how a wooden spoon sounded versus a metal spoon was an experiment. Tyson said just doing what kids love to do was science.
“If it’s raining and there’s a big puddle what do you want to do?” he asked Kaitlynn, who responded “jump in it!”
Tyson asked if her parents let her and she said “Ye…no!”
“Tell your parents Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson said you can jump in it. Tell your parents they’re experiments and you want to be a scientist,” he said.
Kaitlynn said she had fun at the event and aspires to become a scientist one day.
“I really like the universe,” she said, “especially the Aurora Borealis.”
Kaitlynn’s mother, Joy Goulette, said she has been a member of the Springfield Science Museum for three years already and joined its astronomy club last year.
Don said one of Kaitlynn’s first words was “moon” and they have encouraged her interest in the stars, planets and science in general.
“We visit the planetarium a lot,” he said, adding that his two preschool age daughters also have an interest in science.
Don said he came across the video of Kaitlynn the day after the lecture when he searched youtube for a video of the event to show his wife.
“Instead, I found my daughter on the screen,” he said.
The video can be viewed here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVwQ9jBuoFA&feature=share
