The UC Center for Public Engagement with Science (PEWS) is back with its monthly feature, Cincinnati Science Roundup. Check out events and news related to science happening in February from PEWS, our collaborators, and community partners around Greater Cincinnati!
Seed Bomb & Winter Sowing Workshop
Saturday, February 1st, 10:00am-1:00pm. Mill Creek Alliance, 1223 Jefferson Ave, Cincinnati.
The Mill Creek Alliance continues to spread some love in 2025, some wildflower love that is! Join us for a workshop to make “seed bombs”, soil and clay-based balls filled with native seeds, that will be artificially stratified before being planted in sunny spots along Mill Creek this spring. In addition, we will repeat last years strategy of “winter sowing”, a technique used to overwinter seeds outdoors using recycled milk jugs. (Please bring empty and clean milk jugs!)
Click HERE to register. The workshop is FREE and open to the public.
Prix Jeunesse Suitcase: Kids TV and Sustainability – No Planet B
Saturday, February 1st, 8:30am-4:15pm. Clifton Court Hall Auditorium, University of Cincinnati, 2800 Clifton Ave, Cincinnati.
Spend the day watching and discussing children’s sustainable educational television from around the world! All are welcome, and feel free to stop in! Breakfast and lunch provided. This event is sponsored by Prix Jeunesse International, Cheer, the UC Niehoff Center for Film and Media Studies, and PEWS.
Register for the film event here!
Classes and Workshops at the Civic Garden Center
Various dates throughout February. The Civic Garden Center, 2715 Reading Road, Cincinnati, OH.
Regenerative Agriculture – Wednesday, February 12th, 6:00-8:00pm
Come explore a wide range of topics related to regenerative agriculture, including enhancing soil and plant health, biodiversity and principles of a healthy ecosystem. We’ll also discuss the challenges and opportunities involved in implementing these practices.
Homemade Wine – Friday, February 14th, 6:00-7:30pm
Discover the art and science of winemaking in this engaging hands-on workshop! Together, we’ll explore Cincinnati’s rich winemaking history, learn about native grape varieties and craft personalized wine recipes to ferment at home. You’ll participate in a guided tasting of four different wines to sharpen your palate and gather inspiration for your creations. (An NA option will also be available.) We’ll introduce basic chemistry concepts related to wine, such as fermentation and balancing acidity, explained in simple, accessible terms for beginners.
Beginning Beekeeping (three-part series) – Fridays, February 21st, February 28th, and March 7th, 6:00-8:00pm
This three-part introductory course is intended to encourage and support interested non-beekeepers. Novice beekeepers are also welcome! Over the course of the series, you’ll learn about and experience the joy of beekeeping. Topics covered will include getting started, ordering and using equipment, costs, how to get your bees, where to place your bees, protective clothing, and more.
Plant Disease & Integrated Pest Management – Wednesday, February 26th, 6:00-8:00pm
Learn the principles and practices of integrated pest management and how to choose the most appropriate method of control, with emphasis on sustainable remedies and techniques. We’ll also discuss how to identify plant disease and symptoms and implement basic control measures and disease management strategies.
Botany Bistro online program
There’s always a table reserved for you at the Botany Bistro! Here you can munch on bite-sized botany as you savor the science of plants. In 2025, Season 2 of this free, virtual botanical banquet focuses on 24 different plant families, exploring their unique characteristics and ways they have adapted through time. New videos are uploaded on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month. Want to know when new episodes go live? Sign up here! You can also explore Season 1.
Maple in the Moonlight
Friday, February 14th, 7:00- 9:00pm. Farbach-Werner Nature Preserve | Ellenwood Nature Barn, 3455 Poole Rd, Colerain Township, OH.
Kick off the maple sugaring season in the park after dark with this enchanting adults-only night out, organized by Great Parks! Hike the wooded nature trail, then warm up by the fire and experience the journey of bringing maple syrup to your table. Create a maple syrup-inspired project to take home while savoring maple tastings and enjoying local music. Registration includes one drink ticket per person.
Tours with the Civic Garden Center
Various dates throughout February. The Civic Garden Center, 2715 Reading Road, Cincinnati, OH.
Compost Tour – February 6th, 11:00am-12:00pm
Did you know that the Civic Garden Center is host to seven different types of composting systems? Take a walk with us as we learn about the different methods of composting we have and how you can incorporate composting into your life! On this tour, you’ll see Earth Cubes, vermicompost, bokashi, Johnson-Su bioreactors, a three-bin system, a tumbler and a top-loading composter.
Green Learning Station Tour – February 20th, 10:00-11:00am
Have you checked out our Green Learning Station recently? We have rooftop gardens, a compost demonstration area, rainwater catchment systems and an indoor green wall, just to name a few of our current projects! Join us for an informative, informal tour and have your sustainability questions answered by Mary Dudley, our Director of Education.
Hauck Arboretum Tour – February 20th, 11:00am-12:00pm
The Hauck Arboretum may just be Cincinnati’s best kept botanical secret! A stroll along the pathways of this historic public garden reveals new surprises on each visit. Which native plants are blooming this week? What wildlife visitors will you meet? How will you be inspired with ideas for your own landscape? Join CGC Horticulturist Julie for an informal walk around Hauck Botanic Garden and learn all about the history of the park and the plants growing within it. This half-mile tour will involve several steps and some uneven paths. Please wear comfortable shoes and dress for rain or shine.
PEWS Science Harvest
Wednesday, February 19th, 4:00-7:00pm. Northside Farmer’s Market, 4222 Hamilton Ave, Cincinnati.
Science Harvest is a local science outreach initiative of the Center for Public Engagement with Science (PEWS). This program strives to share science with local communities through two-way conversations about science and hands-on science activities. Scientists bring hands-on activities and demonstrations to share with people of all ages to the Northside Farmer’s Market in Cincinnati monthly.
This month, see how basic acid-base reactions can blow up balloons! All ages welcome.
Houseplant How-To Series
Various Tuesdays throughout February. The Civic Garden Center, 2715 Reading Rd, Cincinnati.
Houseplants are wonderful additions to any indoor décor, whether it be at home, the office or a favorite restaurant. Caring for these indoor gardens can be a bit tricky, but once you have the know-how, you can enjoy growing a diverse array of plants indoors through any season!
Each class in the Civic Garden Center’s Houseplant How-To series will include a deep dive into specific indoor plant species, their unique characteristics and growing needs, common problems associated with their long-term care and the best ways to propagate them.
Vining Houseplants – Tuesday, February 11th, 6:00-7:30pm
Vibrant Houseplant Foliage – Tuesday, February 18th, 6:00-7:30pm
Flowering Houseplants – Tuesday, February 25th, 6:00-7:30pm
K-12 ECO STEM Summer Camp Applications Now Open!
Register today!
High School ECO STEM Camp – July 13-16, 2025
Middle School ECO STEM Camp – July 18-19, 2025
K-5 ECO STEM Camp – June 16-17, 2025
Thomas More University Biology Field Station.
ECO STEM Summer camps at the Thomas More University Biology Field Station are a great opportunity for students grades K-12 to experience hands-on, feet-wet learning about aquatic life, conservation, and the Ohio River this summer. Programming is led by University faculty, Field Station staff, and undergraduate research interns. ECO STEM Camps are perfect for students interested in ecology, environmental science, and nature. Register today!
Ohio STEM Innovation Summit: Apply today!
Register today!
Event: June 3rd, 2025, 7:30am-5:00pm, Greater Columbus Convention Center, 400 N High St, Columbus, OH.
STEM Learning Network (OSLN) proudly announces the third annual Ohio STEM Innovation Summit will be held on June 3, 2025, at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio. Over the past two years, the Ohio STEM Innovation Summit has become a pivotal gathering for educators, leaders, and partners dedicated to advancing high-quality STEM education in the state.
Apply to present at the summit: OSLN seeks presenters who can advance STEM integration in the classroom, guide attendees on where to start planning high-quality STEM initiatives, grow existing programs, or engage the community to solve STEM education’s most pressing problems. Applications close February 3, 2025.
Tickets open now: Be sure to grab your tickets soon, availability is limited. Register on Cvent.
