Category: Outreach

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Educational Outreach GSO Interfaces of Global Change IGEP June Newsletter Outreach Schools and science fairs

IGC Fellows engage students at elementary school science fair

The Interfaces of Global Change Graduate Student Organization participated in a recent science fair at Gilbert Linkous Elementary School in Blacksburg. Some of the IGC Fellows served as judges and evaluated the nearly 70 Gilbert Linkous poster presentations. Other fellows operated a photo booth called “Kids Curiosity”. Equipped with plenty of lab and field gear, our graduate students encouraged kids to dress up as scientists and check out some of the cool tools that were on hand.

See the photo gallery below–looks like everyone was having fun!
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The IGC Fellows thank Dr. Ann Stevens, from the Department of Biological Sciences at Virginia Tech for the invitation to staff this fun event.

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Educational Outreach GSO Interfaces of Global Change IGEP Outreach Schools and science fairs

Passport to Discovery: An IGC IGEP outreach day

Saturday, April 12, 2014:

Interfaces of Global Change Graduate Student Organization hosted a science outreach day at the SEEDS Nature Center* in Blacksburg, VA. The day of outdoor activities was titled “Passport to Discovery: a hands-on journey through the world of biological science and nature for children of all ages.”

Volunteers participating in this event included Interfaces of Global Change fellows, graduate and undergraduate students from the Hopkins and Belden labs, NRV Master Naturalists, and staff members from the SEEDS Nature Center. More than 200 participants were in attendance, including many local families as well as visitors who were in town for the weekend.

Seeds flyer

“Passport to Discovery” activity stations included:

  1. Owl pellet dissection
  2. Field techniques for young field biologists
  3. A live demonstration of the adaptations of anoles
  4. A live demonstration of native turtles and their local habitats
  5. Pond life: a plankton demonstration with dissecting scopes
  6. A touch tank of stream invertebrates: how to use a key to determine healthy vs. degraded streams
  7. A live demonstration of frog and salamander diversity
  8. A “passport” photo booth for young scientists

Mike Rosenzweig, director of the SEEDS* Nature Center in Blacksburg, had this to say:

“It was a wonderful day and I hope this can be the start of more collaboration with the Interfaces of Global Change Program… It’s a great opportunity for everyone to connect and reach out to the public.”

*Seek Education, Explore, DiScover – SEEDS®

Since 1995, SEEDS mission has been inspiring a natural curiosity and love for the environment in children and the young at heart through discovery learning, nature education, teacher support, and civic awareness.