Last month, the Center for Public Engagement with Science (PEWS) was pleased to welcome 100 5th graders from the School for Creative and Performing Arts (SCPA) to the University of Cincinnati campus! The students visited the Biology and Geosciences departments for a series of science-related activities and enjoyed a pizza lunch with the Bearcat.
The Biology department activities were organized by Associate Professor-Educator and PEWS Faculty Affiliate Takuya Konishi and were led by several labs. Students tried jelly beans with and without nose plugs to investigate how taste is influenced by smell, learned about the amazing world of biodiversity, and created their own food chains and cycles!
Geosciences’ activities were organized by Associate Professor Josh Miller and facilitated by several Geosciences faculty and graduate students. Rotating through stations, students walked a timeline of earth’s history, witnessed the effects of earthquakes on various forms of architecture, explored how streams change landscapes, and learned about NASA’s rover mission to Mars.
A pizza lunch was provided by the School of Arts and Sciences Admissions, and even the Bearcat stopped by to say hello! The field trip provided a fun way for kids to get an inside look at UC, learn about various scientific fields, and experience what it would be like to be a college student studying science. We look forward to welcoming SCPA students back to UC’s campus again soon!
PEWS is excited to facilitate connections between K-12 schools and researchers at UC. Read more about how we partner with local schools here!
Pictures provided by Annika Baldwin.