The UC Center for Public Engagement with Science is back with its monthly feature, Cincinnati Science Roundup. Check out events and news related to science happening in August from PEWS, our collaborators, and community partners in Greater Cincinnati!
Paddlefest 2024 and Mill Creek Peek
Saturday, August 3rd, 7:00 AM – 12:00 PM, Mill Creek Alliance, 1223 Jefferson Ave, Reading, OH 45215
Join Mill Creek Alliance for the “Mill Creek Peek”, a short journey on Mill Creek, during Paddlefest! Very interesting, short upstream paddle, traveling under bridges and railroads, up to the Mill Creek Barrier Dam. No registration required, just enter the mouth of the Mill Creek and paddle upstream!! Take a break from the final stretch on the Ohio, as you hit the headwind. Mill Creek Yacht Club vets will be stationed along the way to acknowledge points of interest. Register for Paddlefest here.
Discovery Day 2024
Saturday, August 3rd, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM, UC Center for Field Studies, Oxford Rd., Harrison, OH 45030
Join the UC Field Station for a fun day of family-friendly activities and nature walks at Discovery Day, where you can explore interdisciplinary research and projects at the UC Center for Field Studies in Great Parks’ beautiful Miami Whitewater Forest. Guests can enjoy mindfulness walks, go bird watching and learn about the region’s native insects, animals and plants. Participants will also see how, in addition to the College of Arts and Sciences, UC’s colleges of Engineering and Applied Science and Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning use the Center for Field Studies for experiential learning. Register here by August 1.
Science on Tap: Does Knowledge Make Us Better People?
Wednesday, August 7th, 6:30 PM, Radio Artifact at Urban Artifact, 1660 Blue Rock Street, Cincinnati, OH, United States, Ohio 45223 Are you intrigued by the deeper questions of life? Led by PEWS’s own Engaging Science Fellow, Ramy Amin, join Science on Tap for a riveting discussion that explores whether knowledge inherently improves our character and ethics. Science on Tap’s mission is to bridge the gap between science educators, researchers and the public by providing a forum for individuals to learn about the latest scientific research and its practical applications. RSVP here.
2024 Local Government Climate Action Showcase
Thursday, August 8th, 3:00 – 4:30 PM,UC Digital Futures Building, 3080 Exploration Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45206
Join Green Umbrella for the 2024 Local Government Climate Action Showcase featuring the City of Covington KY, City of Milford OH, and City of Oxford OH. Hear from our three fellows and local government leaders about how they led their communities in starting and growing their climate action planning process and projects. Green Umbrella will share opportunities that any community can embrace to take next steps to prepare their community for environmental change and access funding to improve infrastructure, build community resilience, and save money. Light refreshments will be provided. RSVP today! Following the showcase, join Green Umbrella for their August Green Drinks at Somerset OTR at 139 E McMicken Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45202 from 5:00-7:00 PM.
Bat Night for Families at Long Branch Farm and Trails
Friday, August 16th, 7:30 – 8:45 PM, Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens, 3080 Exploration Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45206
Join the Cincinnati Nature Center to meet a live bat up close and personal as we explore these mysterious nocturnal flying mammals, why they’re protected, and how you can help them. They will have a 30–45-minute bat talk followed by some bat-related activities before you head out on the trail to look for bats. You will get to use high-tech equipment to listen to bats as they search for food. Registered participants will meet at the Creekside Barn at our Long Branch Farm and Trails location. Due to bridge damage, the main entrance is temporarily closed. Please use the entrance at 1600 Fay Road. Register here.
Climate Health Equity Webinar Series
Monday, August 19th, 12:00 – 1:00 PM, Online, hosted by Green Umbrella
This 1-hour webinar hopes to address how climate change has impacted air quality resulting in chronic respiratory disease including Asthma and how to address this issue not only for the individual but also on a systems change level. This event is part of the “Climate Health Equity” webinar series, which builds on a recently completed report in partnership with Scioto Analysis, “Climate Health Equity – Analyzing the Impacts of Climate Change and Health Outcomes in Greater Cincinnati.” Register for the webinar here.
Mussel Day with Mill Creek Alliance
Friday, August 23rd, 9:00 AM-12:00 PM, Caldwell Park. Want to be a scientist for the day? Come out and help the Mill Creek Alliance’s Mussel Day search for freshwater mussel shells relocated at Caldwell Park on August 23rd from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm. Whether you want to take underwater footage, dig through sediment on the beds, or learn more about Mill Creek clams and mussels, you will have the chance to contribute to ongoing scientific research! If you are interested in participating in Mussel Day and would like more information, please get in touch with University of Cincinnati graduate student Lilja Carden at cardenla@mail.uc.edu.
Plant Trials Symposium
Thursday, August 29th, 8:50 AM– 5:00 PM, Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens, 3080 Exploration Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45206
The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden’s all-day celebration of plants and gardens. This yearly symposium has become one of the country’s most highly regarded single-day horticultural events and continues to bring in the world’s very best expert speakers. Plant Trials Day symposium is a full day of talks dedicated to the very best plants we can use in our gardens and landscapes. Highly rated and popular, this symposium has always been a fun, relaxed, and yet very informational day that inspires everyone to go home and plant! For green industry professionals and gardeners of all levels, this symposium usually offers CEU credits for ASLA, APLD, ISA, OGIA, and PGMS.
Civic Garden Center Classes
Classes throughout August. The Civic Garden Center has a number of upcoming classes and events for all ages. Free HUB garden classes take place in community gardens around Cincinnati and include such topics as Cooking with Medicinal Plants (8/3), Pest ID & Natural Pest Management (8/15), Healthy Nutrition (8/17), Gardening in Reclaimed Spaces (8/22), and Native Pollinator Plants for Urban Gardens (8/31). Their free program for children and their caregivers, Lil’ Sprouts, is scheduled for 8/12 and 8/26.
The Center also offers three native plant classes on Native Plants for Urban Agriculture (8/14), Native Plants 101 (8/20), and Creating a Backyard Bird Habitat with Native Plants (8/27).
Learn how to spot plant pests and problems on an educational tour of the grounds on 8/28.
Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist Course
Tuesday, September 10th, 6:00PM- 8:00PM. Preregistration required by September 6. Hosted by Cincinnati Nature Center in collaboration with OSU Extension in the School of Environment and Natural Resources, the mission of the Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist program (OCVN) is to “promote awareness and citizen stewardship of Ohio’s natural resources through science-based education and community service.” Participants of this course will have 26 hours of live online class time and 16 hours live at Cincinnati Nature Center, plus readings and multiple-choice quizzes. Those who complete the course will receive certification through OSU. The program emphasizes hands-on natural resource and environmental education coupled with volunteer service. Register here!
