This past year, the Center for Public Engagement with Science (PEWS) developed a field trip for elementary students to learn about science through sports with FC Cincinnati at the TQL stadium. This effort was led by graduate students Maura Bennett (Health & Rehabilitation Sciences PhD student), Qianrong Gong (Philosophy PhD student), and Zoe Webb (Health & Rehabilitation Sciences PhD student). PEWS partnered with Major League Soccer team FC Cincinnati at the initiative of Michael Riley (Professor in the UC Department of Rehabilitation, Exercise & Nutrition Sciences) and with financial support from the UC College of Arts & Sciences.
Zoe Webb and PEWS postdoc Kate Nicole Hoffman were recently given the opportunity to visit the stadium and see the field trip in action. Students came through the doors excited to be given an insider’s look at the stadium. They gathered together to receive their workbooks and complete their first activity, which looked at the similarities between scientists and athletes, facilitated by the enthusiastic FC Cincinnati staff.
Students then broke into small groups to participate in activities located at various places around the stadium. At one station, they created knee joints out of popsicle sticks and rubber bands to learn about scientific models; at another, they tested their heart rates during rest and exercise to practice using instruments to collect and record data. Each station featured UC scientists, who had worked with PEWS to come up with the activities based on their own research. After the activities, students were treated to a pizza lunch. Their workbooks contain follow-up activities to try at home.
FC Cincinnati has run six of these field trips so far, with more planned for the summer and into the fall. PEWS has enjoyed our partnership with FC Cincinnati, and looks forward to future collaborations. Read more about the Science and Sports initiative here!
