"MWEE Held at Virginia State University" by Albert Reid

On March 2, a Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience (MWEE) was held for the first time at Virginia State University’s Randolph Farm for approximately 200 middle school students. This event was in collaboration with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, James River Soil and Water Conservation District, Prince George County Public Schools and Prince George County 4-H. Students participated in hands –on environmental learning activities concerning the Chesapeake Bay. The following is a list of the different stations the students were exposed to during the event. Stops included activities involving wetlands (soil probe testing), parking lot runoff, fish identification and aquatic habitats, riparian buffers (Appomattox River site), aquatic water quality analysis, hydroponics, and animals (alpacas, goats & sheep). Presentations were adapted to the Virginia Standards of Learning.

What is a MWEE?

A MWEE is an investigative or experimental project that engages students in thinking critically about the Bay watershed. A MWEE integrates field work in the Chesapeake Bay watershed with multidisciplinary classroom activities and instruction. Students then share their discoveries with local schools and communities, both orally and in writing.

MWEEs Are Integrated within the Instructional Program.

A MWEE is not a single field trip; rather, the experience reflects an integrated approach to learning. MWEE’s align with jurisdictional learning standards and occur where and when they fit into the existing curriculum. They are also effective tools for teaching many subjects including science, math, history, reading and art.

MWEEs Involve Preparation, Action and Reflection.

A MWEE is organized into three phases. First students research and discuss a watershed issue or problem in preparation for the field component. Second, students take action by observing, measuring, or collecting data during their outdoor experience. Third, students return to the classroom, reflect upon and analyze their project and reach conclusions.

MWEEs Reveal the Watershed as a System.

MWEEs have an intentional connection to the watershed as a whole. Experiences focus not only on the Bay, rivers, and streams, but also on terrestrial issues such as erosion control, buffer creation, groundwater protection, and pollution prevention.

For more information concerning MWEEs contact:

Page Hutchinson

Watershed Outreach and Education

Project Wet Coordinator
Virginia Office of Environmental Education
804-698-4488
page.hutchinson@deq.virginia.gov

VT KTU April 7th exhibit- Polymer-GAK Exhibit

The American Medical Student Association (AMSA) from Virginia Tech will be presenting the polymer exhibit. This is a hands on exhibit where children will be able to make GAK (slime). Step-by-step instructions and assistance will be given to every child by an AMSA member. Feel free to take creations home!

Hosted by- American Medical Student Association from Virginia Tech

American Medical Student Association is a national organization. The chapter at Virginia Tech is student-governed and is comprised of premedical students.

VT KTU April 7th exhibit- What's in your Pool? Human Genetic Variation and Inherited Traits

Look around you. We are all human beings and share 99.9% of the same DNA. So why do we all look so different? At this booth students will learn about simple genetics through an exploration of dominant and recessive traits. Each trait, or physical characteristic, is determined by a person’s genetic makeup. Every person inherits two copies of each gene (known as allelles), one from mom and one from dad. The combination of these alleles will determine the actual trait exhibited by the individual person. Students will look at themselves and consider several common physical traits, such as the ability to curl their tongue, the presence of dimples, and their dominant hand. They will then make and take their own “trait bracelets” to demonstrate their individuality and similarity to others.

Hosted by- Scieneering and CEED

Scieneering is a comprehensive interdisciplinary program of academics and research at the intersection of science, engineering and law, through which students are exposed to real-world, multi-dimensional problems that require knowledge beyond a single discipline. Current Scieneers come from more than 10 science and engineering majors and perform research under the direction of one of over 100 voluntary faculty mentors.

The Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Diversity (CEED) provides encouragement and support to engineering students, focusing on the under-represented population, in an effort to increase the diversity of students who apply to, enroll, and graduate from engineering and awareness of engineering and other technical fields as an exciting and rewarding career path.

VT KTU April 7t exhibit- hosted by the American Water Resources Association (AWRA)

The Student Chapter of American Water Resources Association (AWRA) will be hosting an exhibit of getting to know water and your watershed by showing a model watershed and playing H₂Olympics. A model watershed will be used to demonstrate how water moves over the landscapes and in communities. What types of pollutants run off and what types of things can we do to prevent it will be explored in a fun and interactive way. The H₂Olympics sets up games for kids to compete on events like pole vaulting, balance beam, and slalom to test the adhesion and cohesion properties of water. Come out to test your skills and learn about water and how it affects our watershed.

The American Water Resources Association (AWRA) is a multidisciplinary student organization. Student members come from many different fields and backgrounds (engineering, education, forestry, soils, biology, ecology, geography, management, regulation, hydrology, etc.) but share a general interest in our water resources. Group activities include co-sponsoring seminars, participating in volunteer/outreach activities, providing support in water education, stream monitoring with Save-Our-Stream techniques, and supporting Amman Imman—a non-profit organization that works to supply safe-drinking water to African communities. Overall, AWRA’s mission is to support the education, management, and research of our water resources.

VT KTU April 7th exhibit - Virginia Career VIEW Interactive Games

Join Virginia Career VIEW to explore what careers use science, medicine, and technology. What can you do now to get ready for college and careers? Play our interactive games on our free website and learn more about what you can do to reach your career goals. We are part of the School of Education and our mission is to create college and career resources just for grades K-8. Our website is fun, free, and includes things to print, games to play, a career search, college search, and more! Parents learn how you can help your student think about being college and career ready now!

Hosted by- Virginia Career VIEW VT SOE

Virginia Career VIEW is currently funded by the Virginia Department of Education and is based at Virginia Tech's College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, School of Education, in the Office of Educational Research and Outreach. VIEW provides free training and resources to grades K-8 students, educators, and parents about career and college exploration and planning. We are one of the first and only free state based career exploration systems in the nation. All activities meet the Virginia Standards of Learning and the Virginia School Counseling Standards.

BGSU Kids' Tech University March program

"Why are tomatoes red? What the tomato genome sequence tells us about the color of tomato fruit."

An interactive session led by Dr. David Francis

David Francis, Associate Professor, Horticulture and Crop Sciences, The Ohio State University, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Wooster, OH.

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is the building block of life. The DNA alphabet has only four letters A, T, C and G, which are arranged in 12 strings known as chromosomes; the complete DNA sequence of tomato stretches over 950 million letters! Scientists use the DNA sequence of plants to develop new types of plants that are more productive, resistant to disease, and can provide nutrition for us. What we can learn from the DNA sequence of tomato? Does the DNA sequence tell us about the color? What about the nutritional value of a tomato?

Tomato color is caused by a group of chemicals called "carotenoids", an important class of pigments that include vitamin A. Several proteins are needed to make a specific carotenoid. The information to make the proteins comes from the DNA sequence of tomato. By comparing the DNA sequence from different tomatoes, using mathematical tools, we can learn which part of the sequence is responsible for making the proteins that assemble and modify carotenoid pigments. Other parts of the sequence determine when, and in which part of the plant those proteins are made. We will also talk about how we use the information in the DNA sequence to make new varieties of tomatoes.

Dr. David Francis is an Associate Professor in Horticulture and Crop Science at Ohio State University in Wooster Ohio. David grew up in Southern California and did his doctoral studies at the University of California, Davis in the heart of the Central Valley of California, the largest tomato-producing region in the world. The Central Valley of California is a very hot, dry environment in the summer. By comparison, the Midwest is cooler and more humid, conditions that are much more favorable, for plant pathogens. The primary goal of his research group is to use the genetic information of wild type and domesticated tomato varieties to develop new cultivars with improved fruit quality and disease resistance for the Mid west environment. Ultimately though, the product of his research has to be a tasty tomato, so yes David eats his work.

VT KTU April 7th exhibit- "H2O Olympics"

Learn about properties of water with fun, simple experiments you can do at home! We will also have a game exploring resources trees need to grow and how they compete with other trees.

Exhibit hosted by- VT Soil and Water Conservation/Environmental Student Organization

The VT Soil and Water Conservation Society is dedicated to helping educate the public about current issues pertaining to soil, water, and the environment as a whole. The Environmental Student Organization is partnering with VTSWCS to help with this mission. ESO is involved in education, recycling initiatives, and other activities promoting environmental conservation and appreciation.