PEWS is excited to help plug University of Cincinnati faculty and graduate students into local schools for outreach. PEWS is working to connect local schools with researchers at UC. Events include local elementary students visiting UC, and UC faculty and graduate students visiting local schools.

For example, in March 2023, PEWS organized a day-long visit to University of Cincinnati for 5th grade students from a local elementary school in Cincinnati. This event allowed students to visit a college campus and experience what college has to offer before they are asked to make decisions about which high school to attend. (In Cincinnati Public Schools, high school begins in 7th grade.)

Students who participated in this trip attend the Clifton Area Neighborhood School, or CANS, a school in the Cincinnati Public Schools district located near UC’s main campus. The 5th grade students visited the Biology Department to discuss biodiversity, participated in an engineering activity organized by the College of Engineering & Applied Sciences Center for Inclusive Excellence & Community Engagement and ended the day with lunch and walk around campus with the Office of Admissions’ Community Outreach, Access & Diversity Team.

PEWS has also connected classes with UC faculty and graduate students with relevant expertise to serve as K-12 classroom visitors, on topics like birds, pollinators, biodiversity, and environmental justice.

PEWS is looking forward to continuing to host events for local schools and connect UC researchers to local K-12 classes. Interested teachers or UC researchers are welcome to reach out to us with questions or to express interest in getting involved.