CAES Newswire

 College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences UGA Cooperative Extension
Menu
Published on 05/01/20

Georgia 4-H hosts virtual series to connect youth with science experts

By Cristina Luisa deRevere, Austin Clark

Georgia 4-H Science and Environmental Education Programs are empowering youth to learn, discover and create by offering a collection of virtual learning sessions, connecting youth with specialists and experts in a variety of scientific fields. The “Zoom into Science” series will include an assortment of hour-long Zoom sessions and allow participants to learn from experts as well as to be exposed to a variety of science-related careers.

“Being able to connect young people with science experts from the field is so exciting,” said Kasey Bozeman, Extension 4-H Specialist for Science and Environmental Education Programs. “Science can be fascinating, but it can also be intimidating. I am so eager for these speakers to not only share about their work but also help young people realize careers in science are vast and ever-changing. Anyone can be a scientist.”

Each session will include a presentation from an expert or specialist and conclude with a Q&A segment with participants. All sessions are free to attend and open to the public.

The first session, to be hosted on May 7, will highlight space. Participants will be joined by NASA Education Specialist Stephen Smith from the Houston Space Center. During his session, Smith share information about upcoming NASA missions, including the upcoming SpaceX launch on May 27. Participants can register for the session at tinyurl.com/scizoomspace.

“We are moving into the next chapters of human exploration,” said Smith. “NASA wants you to take part and hopes you can join us on this journey.”

The next session will be hosted on May 21 and will highlight weather. Former Mitchell County 4-H member and current atmospheric science graduate student Dillon Blount, along with WFXL Albany News’ Kerri Copello and storm chaser Rick Lipscomb, will focus on a variety of weather-related topics and careers. Participants can register for the session at tinyurl.com/scizoomweather.

“I am excited to give back to Georgia 4-H after participating for the majority of my youth,” said Blount. “I realized my career path was truly possible through Georgia 4-H Project Achievement. It helped shape my career path and has now given me the opportunity to share what I love with current 4-H’ers.”

The next session, to be hosted June 4, will feature Neil Shubin, world-renowned paleontologist and discoverer of Tiktaalik roseae, a 375-million-year-old fossil fish, commonly known as the "fishapod.” He will be presenting his work and important discoveries in fossil records. Participants can register for the session at tinyurl.com/scizoompaleontology.

Georgia 4-H empowers youth to become true leaders by developing necessary life skills, positive relationships and community awareness. As the largest youth leadership organization in the state, 4-H reaches more than 242,000 people annually through the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension offices and 4-H facilities. For more information, visit georgia4h.org or contact your local Extension office.

Cristina deRevere is the public relations coordinator for Georgia 4-H.

Austin Clark is a Georgia 4-H public relations associate.

Authors:
Cristina Luisa deRevere
Austin Clark
Experts/Sources:
Kasey Bozeman
The Georgia 4-H "Zoom into Science" series will virtually connect youth with science experts.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Download Image
The 2022-2023 Georgia 4-H student board poses with green slime-covered Georgia 4-H Leader Melanie Biersmith after the 2023 $4 for 4-H celebration. Biersmith has agreed to subject herself to the slime again this year if the $74,444 goal is reached. CAES News
Support Georgia 4-H with a $4 gift on April 4 04/03/24 Josie Smith
The Georgia 4-H Foundation is encouraging friendly competition between 4-H supporters in each county in Georgia to benefit positive youth development during the “$4 for 4-H” fundraiser on April 4. In what has become an annual tradition, each Georgia county asks local donors to make online donations of $4 or more that day, with the goal of receiving at least four donations per county. Counties that receive four or more donations will turn green on a Georgia map that will be updated throughout the day on social media April 4.
The First Flock was established at the Georgia Governor's Mansion in July 2021. CAES News
Inaugural First Flock retires to 4-H center as 15 new hens move to Governor’s Mansion 03/18/24 Josie Smith, Lily Thomas
Georgia’s inaugural First Flock is retiring to Fortson 4-H Center almost three years after they came to roost at the Governor’s Mansion in 2021. Six members of the original flock traded places with 15 new hens during a ceremonial swap on Feb. 1 at the First Flock’s custom coop on the eastern side of the 18-acre mansion grounds in Atlanta. The idea for the project was hatched in 2020 when Georgia first lady Marty Kemp expressed her desire to include agricultural education via residential hens at the mansion.
web Capitol Day Group Photo on Oglethorpe Stairs CAES News
4-H’ers see leadership in action during Georgia 4-H Day at the Capitol 02/28/24 Josie Smith
The gold dome of the Georgia Capitol was complemented with shades of green on Feb. 14 as 4-H youth and adult leaders joined elected officials for the largest Georgia 4-H Day at the Capitol on record. With nearly 700 in attendance, outstanding 4-H’ers from counties across the state gathered to engage with legislators, observe leadership in action and learn about the civic process.
gwinnett county extension CAES News
Metro Atlanta Extension office growing capacity to reach diverse audiences 02/21/24 Sameeka Prabath Rajamani
As the population of Gwinnett County approaches the 1 million mark, with a highly diverse demographic profile, the county's University of Georgia Cooperative Extension office is preparing to serve its changing constituency effectively. Recently, the Gwinnett County Extension Program received a $250,000 budget increase from the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners to increase staffing and expand community educational outreach and engagement to underrepresented groups around the county.
As drug overdoses linked to opioids continue to rise, rural communities in particular struggle to control the epidemic. CAES News
Extension project focuses on education, outreach to address opioid crisis 11/27/23 Cal Powell
As drug overdoses linked to opioids continue to rise, rural communities in particular struggle to control the epidemic. More than 75% of the nearly 107,000 drug overdose deaths in 2021 involved an opioid, with higher rates of poverty and a lack of resources in rural areas being a significant factor in the alarming trend. University of Georgia Cooperative Extension is working with rural communities to address the issue, thanks in part to a three-year $350,000 Rural Health and Safety Education grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Warnell professor Kris Irwin (right) helps campers set leaf-litter traps to capture macroinvertebrates, small amphibians and other organisms during Georgia 4-H Natural Resources Exploration Camp at Rock Eagle 4-H Center. CAES News
Georgia 4-H offers new Natural Resources Exploration Camp 10/17/23 Josie Smith, Alyssa Haag
A dozen 4-H’ers from around Georgia were the first explorers to experience Georgia 4-H’s newest summer program — Natural Resources Exploration Camp — and learn about wildlife, forestry, fisheries and other natural resources from University of Georgia faculty.