BLACKSBURG, Va., September 29, 2010 - A popular program designed to cultivate children's interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines and strengthen ties between university research communities and the area residents is expanding its reach beyond the Virginia Tech campus. Kids' Tech University (KTU) will offer its first off-campus event, bringing its groundbreaking program to the Virginia State University (VSU) campus.
KTU leaders are working with Virginia Cooperative Extension at VSU to offer a fall 2010 program featuring two daylong events for kids between the ages of 9 and 12 living within a four-hour drive of the VSU campus. KTU, which was developed at the Virginia Bioinformatics Institute (VBI) at Virginia Tech in partnership with the Virginia Cooperative Extension's 4-H Youth Development Program, is designed to introduce kids to STEM topics, as well as life on a university campus, at an early age. The events feature lectures from internationally recognized scientific researchers and hands-on activities developed by various VSU professors, students, and community organizations to encourage further exploration of the lecture topics. The fun and excitement of KTU continues after the children leave campus through an online lab component featuring activities designed to cultivate continued interest and a forum area to promote discussion and teamwork.
“We are proud to be the first institution outside of Virginia Tech to premiere this highly-acclaimed scientific program for youth, Kids’ Tech University (KTU),” said VSU Extension Specialist Albert Reid, who is working with Kristy Collins, a senior research associate in education and outreach at VBI, to coordinate the activities at VSU. “This opportunity allows us to provide dynamic lectures by leading research scientists and engaging hands-on activities to the children in our community.”
Boris Kovatchev, associate professor of psychiatry and neurobehavioral sciences and systems and information engineering at the University of Virginia, will deliver the first lecture for the fall 2010 KTU program at VSU on Oct. 30, 2010, answering the question, “Why do doctors need math to treat diabetes?” Kovatchev will discuss the ways doctors use math to determine precisely how much insulin diabetic patients need at specific times, as well as how math is helping researchers develop of an artificial pancreas that will deliver the correct dosage of insulin to patients safely and automatically. The second KTU event at VSU for the fall 2010 semester will be held on Dec. 4, 2010, and will feature a lecture by David Harwood, a professor of earth and atmospheric sciences at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and research director of the ANtarctic geological DRILLing (ANDRILL) program, which will answer the question, “What climate secrets are buried deep beneath the Antarctic ice sheet?”
“Following two successful semesters of KTU on the Virginia Tech campus, we are excited to have the opportunity to share our enthusiasm for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics with children from other areas of the Commonwealth,” said Reinhard Laubenbacher, professor and deputy director of education and outreach at VBI, who spearheaded the development of KTU based on a similar program in Germany. “This has been our goal from the beginning – to introduce the compelling world of scientific research to as many kids as possible.”
Online registration for the VSU program, which is free and open to the public but limited to 100 participants, will begin at 6:00 p.m. on Sept. 30, 2010.
Written by: Susan Bland, VBI Public Relations Practitioner
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Virginia State University Kids' Tech University program!
Hello everyone,
We are happy to announce that Virginia State University will be hosting a Kids' Tech University program in the fall this year. The specifics on the program are located at this website.
The program will consist of 2 lecture/hands-on dates:
Oct. 30, 2010 will highlight October 30, 2010 | "Why do doctors need Math to treat diabetes?" - Answered by Dr. Boris Kovatchev
December 4, 2010 | “What climate secrets are buried deep beneath the Antarctic ice sheet?” - Answered by Dr. David Harwood
Students enrolled are committing to coming to both.
Registration opens on Sept. 30th, at 6 pm.
We are happy to announce that Virginia State University will be hosting a Kids' Tech University program in the fall this year. The specifics on the program are located at this website.
The program will consist of 2 lecture/hands-on dates:
Oct. 30, 2010 will highlight October 30, 2010 | "Why do doctors need Math to treat diabetes?" - Answered by Dr. Boris Kovatchev
December 4, 2010 | “What climate secrets are buried deep beneath the Antarctic ice sheet?” - Answered by Dr. David Harwood
Students enrolled are committing to coming to both.
Registration opens on Sept. 30th, at 6 pm.
Friday, July 30, 2010
VCOM “Mini” Medical School with Wizard Professors and Potions Lab!
Wizard Mini Med School
What: “Mini” Medical School with Wizard Professors and Potions Lab!
Where: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine in Blacksburg – the event will take place at “VCOM II”, the building directly across the street from the main VCOM Campus at 2265 Kraft Drive. Signs will be posted on Kraft Drive.
Who: Young adults ages 11-15
When: August 5th, 1:00 – 2:30 PM
How: Advance registration is required. To register your young adult, please contact Stephanie Gardner, sgardner@vcom.vt.edu, (540-231-3926) or Jessica Muller, jmuller@vcom.vt.edu, (540-231-4112) and provide your name, your participant’s name and age, and an emergency contact number.
This program provides fun and engaging instruction about important health topics for young adults, including the health dangers of drugs, alcohol and smoking as well as HIV and STDs, and will include “Potions Lab” chemistry experiments. The program will be led by “Wizard” instructors who are faculty members and students at the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine. This program is part of the “Harry Potter’s World” summer programming series.
Space is limited, so register early!
What: “Mini” Medical School with Wizard Professors and Potions Lab!
Where: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine in Blacksburg – the event will take place at “VCOM II”, the building directly across the street from the main VCOM Campus at 2265 Kraft Drive. Signs will be posted on Kraft Drive.
Who: Young adults ages 11-15
When: August 5th, 1:00 – 2:30 PM
How: Advance registration is required. To register your young adult, please contact Stephanie Gardner, sgardner@vcom.vt.edu, (540-231-3926) or Jessica Muller, jmuller@vcom.vt.edu, (540-231-4112) and provide your name, your participant’s name and age, and an emergency contact number.
This program provides fun and engaging instruction about important health topics for young adults, including the health dangers of drugs, alcohol and smoking as well as HIV and STDs, and will include “Potions Lab” chemistry experiments. The program will be led by “Wizard” instructors who are faculty members and students at the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine. This program is part of the “Harry Potter’s World” summer programming series.
Space is limited, so register early!
VCOM coming event!
VCOM Library
HARRY POTTER PROGRAM EVENT
Morning Song Way
When: 1:00 pm on Saturday, July 31st, 2010
Where: Lyric Theatre, 135 College Avenue, Blacksburg
To augment his presentation as a Medicine in Virginia panelist, Charles Howard Thomas will be offering a special screening of his award-winning film, Morning Song Way, at The Lyric, a not-for-profit community theater in the heart of Blacksburg. Mr. Thomas is a member of the Ani-Stohini/Unami Nation, a small Indian tribe in the mountains of southern Appalachia primarily in the seven counties of Carroll, Grayson, Wythe, Washington, Smyth, Patrick, and Floyd in Virginia and Surry and Alleghany Counties in North Carolina. Mr. Thomas will lead a question and answer session for the film audience, discussing themes of cultural loss and preservation of heritage associated with his film.
HARRY POTTER PROGRAM EVENT
Morning Song Way
When: 1:00 pm on Saturday, July 31st, 2010
Where: Lyric Theatre, 135 College Avenue, Blacksburg
To augment his presentation as a Medicine in Virginia panelist, Charles Howard Thomas will be offering a special screening of his award-winning film, Morning Song Way, at The Lyric, a not-for-profit community theater in the heart of Blacksburg. Mr. Thomas is a member of the Ani-Stohini/Unami Nation, a small Indian tribe in the mountains of southern Appalachia primarily in the seven counties of Carroll, Grayson, Wythe, Washington, Smyth, Patrick, and Floyd in Virginia and Surry and Alleghany Counties in North Carolina. Mr. Thomas will lead a question and answer session for the film audience, discussing themes of cultural loss and preservation of heritage associated with his film.
Friday, June 11, 2010
WAVY appearance
Notice anyone you know on the WAVY Kid Talk program, 4/17/2010?
I had the opportunity to be a guest expert on WAVY Kid Talk program. The theme we talked about was Tech Safety. Its a crazy world out there and its important for children (and adults) to remain safe especially with technology.
PS- And to anyone who has asked the age old question, "Is the green room really green?"-- The green room wasn't all that green.
I had the opportunity to be a guest expert on WAVY Kid Talk program. The theme we talked about was Tech Safety. Its a crazy world out there and its important for children (and adults) to remain safe especially with technology.
PS- And to anyone who has asked the age old question, "Is the green room really green?"-- The green room wasn't all that green.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
SEEDS Blacksburg Price House Nature Center's public opening!
SEEDS Blacksburg Price House Nature Center's public opening is this coming Saturday, April 17th 11AM 4PM.
Find us at www.seedsguys.org & www.facebook.com/blacksburgnaturecenter
Become a fan!
We'll also be at the nature center on Friday, April 16th for VT Remembrance Day to honor Julia Pryde.
WE ARE TAKING VOLUNTEER APPLICATIONS NOW For our open public hours. Please inquire with us if you are interested.
Exhibits
Birds migration, bird feeders, bird watching
Insects social insects > VT Beekeeping club will be setting up a living observation hive.
Trees Wood, tree parts, trees and you
Seasons and trees
Skulls, bones, and shells
Regional Wildlife
Making Animal Tracks
Local waters: Freshwater Heritage of Blacksburg
Story telling area (kid-style nature books always welcome)
"What is it?" exhibit
Matching exhibit
Art in Nature: Kids interpret the environment through art
Cave life and karst geology (coming soon)
GLOBE monitoring site (coming soon)
Vision discovery (coming soon)
Feel free to stop by and check out our progress. The price house gardens are begining to bloom!
SEEDS Summer Field Camps 2010
SEEDS summer camp schedule is posted on our website. Open registration began on 1 April. You can print a registration form from our website and mail it in. Sorry no online registration. We must have a deposit and your signature on the registration form.
Find us at www.seedsguys.org & www.facebook.com/blacksburgnaturecenter
Become a fan!
We'll also be at the nature center on Friday, April 16th for VT Remembrance Day to honor Julia Pryde.
WE ARE TAKING VOLUNTEER APPLICATIONS NOW For our open public hours. Please inquire with us if you are interested.
Exhibits
Birds migration, bird feeders, bird watching
Insects social insects > VT Beekeeping club will be setting up a living observation hive.
Trees Wood, tree parts, trees and you
Seasons and trees
Skulls, bones, and shells
Regional Wildlife
Making Animal Tracks
Local waters: Freshwater Heritage of Blacksburg
Story telling area (kid-style nature books always welcome)
"What is it?" exhibit
Matching exhibit
Art in Nature: Kids interpret the environment through art
Cave life and karst geology (coming soon)
GLOBE monitoring site (coming soon)
Vision discovery (coming soon)
Feel free to stop by and check out our progress. The price house gardens are begining to bloom!
SEEDS Summer Field Camps 2010
SEEDS summer camp schedule is posted on our website. Open registration began on 1 April. You can print a registration form from our website and mail it in. Sorry no online registration. We must have a deposit and your signature on the registration form.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
InnovationSpace at Virginia Tech
At the Feb. 27th KTU the InnovationSpace at Virginia Tech came out to the afternoon hands-on activity time and some kids made videos using the technology they showcased! You can view the video's here- http://www.youtube.com/user/iSpaceKTU
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
