Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Mudbass Fishing Tournament on April 17th!

Hi everyone,

At the last KTU event, Don Orth from the VT Department of Fisheries and Wildlife exhibited. A lot of people were asking him/talking to him about the Mudbass Fishing Tournament (held on the campus of VT) so he asked if we could publicize the event. See the flyer below!

Thursday, March 18, 2010

The Geology Club will be exhibiting at Kids' Tech University on March 20th!

Geology Club at Kids' Tech University
The Geology Club at Virginia Tech is a group of students devoted to promoting and studying the geosciences by visiting parks, museums, and quarries. We also work with children to promote their interest in earth science. At our exhibit, we will have a hands-on fossil dig for children to explore geological history and learn about rocks and prehistoric animals. We will also have a model of a shield volcano to illustrate lava flow and eruption. Geology Club is excited to teach you about dinosaurs, geological history, and rock formation!

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Evironmental Student Organization will be exhibiting at the March 20th KTU!

Exhibit title: "Salt Marsh Player"

Kids will learn how organisms adapt to life in a salt marsh. They will act out the lifestyles of various organisms found in the marine habitat, and how the organisms respond to tidal changes. This activity is taken from the Project WET Curriculum and Activity guide.

A bit about our organization:
The Environmental Student Organization (ESO) at Virginia Tech is prominent in promoting the importance of environmental stewardship and awareness. Our club is for students with a environmental interest and provides a comfortable outlet for students to share activities, projects, and ideas. Our goal is to further explore the intricacies of the environment and its issues to both its group within and the campus as a whole. We’re looking to create an outlet for environmentally-related majors to make alumni connections and explore career possibilities, as well as simply enjoy the outdoors!

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Dairy Science will be at Kids' Tech on March 20th!

Why do cows dine on donuts?

Presenters:
Mr. Dave Winston, Extension Dairy Scientist, Youth
Ms. Jennifer Stamey, Graduate Student, Department of Dairy Science

Representing: Department of Dairy Science

The dairy cow is an amazing creature. She produces fresh, wholesome milk that is made into many different dairy products. She is a ruminant, meaning that she has a four-compartment stomach. Her four stomach compartments allow her to eat feeds that humans cannot eat like grass and hay. She is also able to make milk from by-product feeds, materials leftover after making other products. For example, whole cottonseeds are left over after removing cotton to make cloth. Whole cottonseed is a great feed for the cow because it is high in fiber, energy, and protein. Bakery waste (bread, pastries, donuts), citrus pulp (orange juice), corn hominy feed (flour) are a few examples of other by-product feeds that cows like to eat. Participants will have the opportunity to identify and handle many of the feeds that the dairy cow eats. They will also be able to learn more about the cow’s rumen by interacting with a cow with a “window” in her side.

Virginia Cooperative Extension and Master Gardeners will be at Kids' Tech on March 20th!

The Virginia Cooperative Extension and Master Gardeners will have a hands-on activity on Flower Anatomy and tie it w/ Pollination and Honey Bees.

Monday, March 15, 2010

The Food Animal Practitioners Club will be at KTU on March 20th!

Ultrasound is one of the most recent advances in technology that is commonly used in veterinary medicine. This machine can be used to diagnose pregnancy, as we will be doing today in ewes. It can also be used to examine internal organs and for finding disease within the body. Today we will use the ultrasound to find lambs within the uterus to confirm pregnancy in sheep.

About our club: The Food Animal Practitioners Club is a close-knit group of students with an interest in cattle, swine, sheep, goat, camelid and poultry medicine. The club holds meetings in which various veterinary cases and farm management issues are explored. We also host outside speakers who discuss topics such as practicing veterinary medicine in other countries, new medical products, and field experts. The club goes on several field trips throughout the year to places such as dairy farms, beef farms, and sheep farms. Overall, this club provides students with great opportunities to learn more about livestock medicine while making new friends and having a lot of fun.

About VMRCVM: Founded by the Virginia General Assembly in 1978, the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine is a regional professional school built upon the strong foundations of two of the nation's leading land-grant universities: Virginia Tech in Blacksburg and the University of Maryland at College Park. Veterinary medicine remains a vital part of animal agriculture, and that role is magnified by the growing demands of a global population explosion. Modern veterinary medicine is also very concerned with the health and welfare of companion animals. Today, the health or illness of a beloved pet is a critical family concern. Here at VMRCVM, we are preparing our students to enter the veterinary profession and maintain the well-being of the pets and livestock they encounter.

"Every day, anxious animal owners arrive at one of our two Veterinary Teaching Hospitals seeking the advanced diagnostic and therapeutic support that tertiary care centers are uniquely qualified to provide. And thanks to the skill and compassion of our board-certified clinical faculty-members, house officers and fourth-year students, our medical records detail many heart-warming success stories. The VMRCVM has treated more than a million animals since it opened." Dr. Gerhardt G. Schurig, Dean

Engineers Without Borders will be at the March 20th KTU!

Engineers Without Borders - How it Works

Engineers Without Borders (EWB) at Virginia Tech is an organization thats works with EWB-USA to apply engineering solutions to various problems internationally. It is a student run organization that has four international project in progress.

Ever wonder how those toys that you loved so much as a kid work, or what magic lies behind the screws? Well as engineers, we are always interested in how something works and is built, thats is why we will be presenting the engineering behind See and Says. Through this exhibit everyone will learn what it takes to make a simple process like pulling a lever and sound coming out work. They will see various phases of construction and see the ins and outs of a perfectly designed machine. The goal of this exhibit is to take home an appreciation of the designing it takes to create a working toy and to inspire interest to figure out how other stuff works!

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Virginia Career VIEW exhibiting at KTU on March 20th!

Virginia Career VIEW, funded by the Virginia State Department of Education Career and Technical Education department, has been
providing education and career exploration resources to Virginians of all ages for 30 years. Our premier resource, Career Town, is an interactive web based activity providing online games for grades K-5 to promote career development and educational planning through career exploration and academic skills building. Levels 1-3 provide a total of 23 online activities relating to the 16 federal career clusters while assisting students in developing academic standards of learning as well as career development skills. Students can visit Career Town to explore careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math; also included are printed manuals with additional activities for students, parents, teachers, and counselors to promote hands-on career development experiences focusing on the STEM area as well as the 16 federal career clusters.

http://www.vacareerview.org

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Dr. Jianhua Xing will be exhibiting at the March 20th KTU!

"Curriculum Vitae of a bacterium”

Abstract: We will use the words of a personalized E Coli bacterium to show that bacteria master physics and engineering principles, so they can design machines (called bacterial flagellar motors) with amazing performance. We hope to encourage kids to learn science and engineering to outsmart the bacteria. A student will play with kids to show how one can design a multi-engine motor.

Dr. Jianhua Xing's lab is interested in using theoretical and computational analysis to understand the simple physical and chemical laws underlying complex biological processes, and using the knowledge to outsmart disease-causing objects from microorganisms to cancer cells.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Ms. Marilyn Lanier will be an exhibitor at the March 20th KTU!

“Tower Power”- Engineering Fun

Take an open and creative approach to problem solving. Sharpen your communication skills as you discover the science in tower building. Learn that a successful outcome is not always based on personal opinion but on scientific fact. The specific objectives of this activity is that each team (1) apply the stages of engineering design process to build a stable tower with a roof as tall as possible that will stand on its own from the materials provided with limited amount of time and communication, and (2) recognize the connections between science and other disciplines such as math, technology, art, and engineering. Join in a fun activity that promotes an innovative move toward teaching integrated science. This activity aims to provide participants with several learning goals, both cognitive and affective, such as the ability to identify appropriate problems for technological design, designing a solution and product, and evaluating the completed design. Moreover, it helps develop a comprehensive understanding of the application of science and technology.

By:
Marilyn Lanier
PhD Candidate, School of Education
Department of Teaching and Learning
Secondary Science Education
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, VA 24060

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Montgomery-Floyd Regional Library to exhibit at KTU on March 20th!

To strengthen our community, the Montgomery-Floyd Regional Library provides individuals with access to information, experiences and ideas. The Montgomery-Floyd Regional Library offers a variety of programs for children and teens of all ages. The library has four branches in Blacksburg, Christiansburg, Shawsville and Floyd.

The Montgomery-Floyd Regional Library will have an exhibit at KTU on March 20th. They will be showcasing upcoming programs and books that go along with the lecture program!

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

The Richlands High School T2H (Trees to Hug) group will be at KTU on March 20th!

Title: Planting Greener Tomorrow

Exhibit Abstract:
At the Kids’ Tech University Exhibit, T2H would like to focus on recycling and gardening techniques that can help make a brighter and more sustainable future for all. Prior to the event T2H members will prepare homemade recycled seed pots by using old newspapers. The seed pots are prepared before hand due to a long drying period. We will have an exhibit showing how the pots are made along with “ Going Green” educational flyers with the exact instructions. As a parting gift, our T2H members will assist participants in the project about recycling and sustainable gardening, by having them fill the premade recycled pots with organic potting soils and seeds. This will allow students to take home a gift that will keep giving for a long time to come. Our pots are fully biodegradable and after Spring comes can be planted out side - pot and all - for everyone to enjoy.

Club Information:
T2H (Trees to Hug) was start in Fall 2008 by Mrs. Melissa Addison and Mrs. Tiffany Stillwell, teachers at Richlands High School. Our members come from a variety of social and economic backgrounds that have banded together to promote conservation and sustainable living. The purpose of the club was to bring green ideas and practices into the school setting. Richlands High School now has a recycling program, participates in the science fair, sponsors school run activities, and promotes green living practices by being examples for the rest of the student body. During Earth Week we sponsor week long activities, including fundraisers, presentations, and school and town improvement projects. We work with the surrounding middle and elementary schools to teach younger students ways they can make a difference in their schools and homes by recycling, conserving water and electricity, and working together to make a better tomorrow. Our T2H members realize that small differences now can mean a better future for us all.

Monday, March 8, 2010

VT Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences will be at the hands-on events at KTU on March 20th!

Exhibit title: "Fun with Fishes"

The mission of the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences is to be a center of academic excellence in aquaculture, conservation ecology, fisheries and wildlife sciences by providing quality programs in teaching research, and outreach in that will enhance fisheries and wildlife resource management at state, national, and international levels.

We conduct teaching, research, and outreach on fish and wildlife species ranging from the rare and endangered, to the economically valuable recreational and commercial animals, to the common and invasive nuisance animals. We explore critical issues concerning the conservation, development and wise use of fish and wildlife in habitats ranging from forested mountains, agricultural and urban landscapes, barrier islands and beaches, springs, rivers, estuaries, and oceans. Students and faculty are actively engaged in service activities through chapters of the American Fisheries Society and the Wildlife Society.

We in Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences are passionate about natural resource conservation and management and about making a difference in how our society values sustainable natural resources. To achieve our vision, we are committed to serve as role models for excellent research, teaching, and outreach. We intend our program to be the best place to attract and nurture outstanding people who will lead in making legacy decisions. We are a self-organized, adaptive unit, and we recognize that our effectiveness is best achieved by sharing our time, talents, wisdom, and enthusiasm to enable others to act and to excel. We will continue to improve the status quo and celebrate our successes in changing the world, one person at a time.

We are recognized widely as a premier program in North America that addresses fisheries and wildlife issues of national and global concern, and our faculty are leaders in their respective disciplines.

Friday, March 5, 2010

The VT Poultry Club will be at the March 20th KTU!

The VT Poultry club will have an incubator, chicks that are available to handle, and eggs to candle!

The club consists of a group of students who are interested in poultry science!

The VT Entomology Department will be at the March 20th KTU!

Arthropod Encounters
W.B. Alwood Society, Virginia Tech Entomology Department

Hosted by the W.B. Alwood Society, Arthropod Encounters introduces visitors to the wonders of insects and other arthropods. Interact with live specimens such as Madascar hissing cockroaches and giant millipedes; view an array of preserved insects collected from the U.S. and other parts of the world; and use microscopes to see insect structures up close and personal!

The W.B. Alwood Society is the Virginia Tech Entomology Department's student organization.
One of the primary objectives of the Society is to stimulate interest in and increase knowledge of entomology and its related disciplines. Society members lead tours of the Virginia Tech Entomology Department and participate in community education fairs such as this one. Though the Society is comprised mainly of Entomology Department graduate students, membership is open to any Virginia Tech student with an interest in entomology and who desires to participate in the Society and its outreach programs.

Thursday, March 4, 2010

The Soil and Water Conservation Society will be exhibiting at March 20th!

Exhibit title: "H20 Olympics"

Water is our lifeline on Earth. Not only is it important to learn about what makes it special to our planet, but it is fun as well! Through a friendly "Olympic" style competition, students will learn the nature of the water molecule. In each of four events, participants will demonstrate water's unique cohesive and adhesive properties. See how many drops of water you can you can put on a penny, or how many paperclips you can suspend on the surface of the water!

The Virginia Tech Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS) is a student chapter of the National Soil and Water Conservation Society. SWCS is a nonprofit organization that advocates the protection, enhancement, and wise use of soil, water, and related natural resources. Our student chapter engages in a variety of service and social activities throughout the year, including biomonitoring at local streams, environmental education workshops, stream clean-ups, community outreach, and other conservation projects. This KTU activity is taken from the Project WET curriculum & activity guide.

The Horticulture Club will be exhibiting at the March 20th KTU!

Bugs Beware!!
Can carnivorous plants eat more than bugs? Why do they eat bugs? Should you worry about being eaten by a carnivorous plant? Come let the Horticulture club enlighten you on where these plants are found and what the largest mammal is that needs to fear carnivorous plants. There will be several carnivorous plants to observe and a small craft.

The Horticulture Club foster good relations with the faculty, students, alumni and industry leaders. We are very community oriented; we participate in Adopt-A-Highway, The Harding Avenue Elementary School's Green Club, Big Event and other events. Each spring we host a plant sale that generates funds for scholarships, student trips, donations to the Horticulture department and other service projects.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

On to March 20th!

Hi everyone,

The Feb. 27th KTU program is complete and we here at KTU headquarters are getting everything reorganized and ready for the March 20th program. For this month's program we will be in a new hands-on venue! Sorry parents and kids, you'll have to wait until next Friday to find out where in your overview of day document!

The program on March 20th is centered on the discipline of science! Dr. Guillette will be giving the lecture and VT clubs and departments will be exhibiting science orientated hands-on activities. We will start posting the exhibitor abstracts tomorrow!

Below is title and abstract for the lecture on March 20, 2010-

“Why do we need alligators in the swamp?” - Answered by Dr. Lou Guillette

Lecture abstract: We live in a modern world and wonder, “why do we still have dangerous animals?” Why do we need animals – like the alligator – living in our swamps? We will explore the world of the alligator and why these animals are not only important to the swamp, but what they can tell us about the world we live in. We will discuss the concept of a “keystone species” and a “sentinel species.” A keystone species is one that other animals depend on and, if lost from our world, would lead to major changes in the environment. A sentinel species can be used to inform us about the health of a population or environment. We will learn just how the alligator is helping make a safer and cleaner environment for all of us.

Dr. Lou Guillette is a Distinguished Professor of Biology at the University of Florida (UF), Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Professor, and director of the HHMI UF G.A.T.O.R. Program. His research is concentrated in three main areas: 1. Influence of contaminants on the developmental and reproductive biology of wildlife and humans, 2. Endangered species reproduction, and 3. Evolution of maternal-fetal chemical communication.