A huge part of success in almost any career is strong communication skills

We are holding a workshop in Science communication, using fun and engaging improv techniques developed from acting training to help you connect with audiences.

The workshop consists of 5 sessions
April 11, 13,18,20, 25, 3-5 pm

to sign-up please email prof. Ryan Hickox [log in to unmask]
by Wednesday, April 5

VINS is looking for graduate students who are interested in volunteering to participate in their Earth Day celebration events on April 22.

The stations they will be creating are:

Water Quality Measurements: We will have samples already taken from various points along the Ottauquechee. Volunteers will help guests measure pH, turbidity, and mineral content.
Weather Station: Help visitors use thermometers, rain gauges, winds gauges, and possibly building a rudimentary barometer. Talk about weather vs climate.
Project Budburst and iNaturalist: help visitors collect data for these two citizen science projects. Identifying budding plants and documenting location, time, etc. Talk to visitors about citizen science in general.
Mini Solar Panels: help visitors learn about energy and solar panels by measuring the energy absorbed by the panels at different angles and in different places. Talk about renewable energy sources, benefits and limitations.
Pollinator Bombs: help visitors create mudballs with seeds of native plants embedded in them, which can be dispersed in a field or at home just by throwing them! Talk about the importance of native vegetation.
Adaptations Game: Will only run every hour on the hour--an active, running game that has visitors playing at natural selection through successive generations of hopping, skipping, and jumping across a field.

If you are interested, please email Amanda Skinner ([log in to unmask]) for more details!

Opportunity TWO: Dothan Brook Science. If you are interested in being involved in this, please reach out to Anna Adachi-Meija: Anna M. Adachi-Mejia <[log in to unmask]


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from the requestors:
"We are planning a science day for our K-5 students at the Dothan Brook School on Friday, April 14th from 12:45 to 2:15.

We are asking local scientists to come and share their science knowledge with our students. You can give a presentation, facilitate a hands-on activity, or a combination of the two. Group sizes will be no larger than 20 students. Teachers will be rotating with groups of students and will be available to help support you and the students during your presentation/activity.

You will be presenting to three to four groups throughout the afternoon for about 20 minutes per group. You can gear your activity towards grades K-2 or grades 3-5. We are open to any activities that will get students excited about science and we would be happy to help you plan engaging activities. "