CAES Newswire

 College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences UGA Cooperative Extension
Menu
Published on 08/03/20

Georgia 4-H online science series continues into fall

By Cristina Luisa deRevere

The Georgia 4-H Science and Environmental Education Program will be offering new “Zoom into Science” sessions for the fall. This collection of virtual learning lessons allows youth from across the country to connect with scientists, researchers and engineers through an online communication platform, Zoom.  

The “Zoom into Science” series began in May, offering five sessions on topics ranging from space, weather and water to prosthetics and paleontology. Due to the success of the summer sessions, plans are underway for more learning opportunities this fall. Each one-hour Zoom session allows participants to learn from specialists and experts, as well as to be exposed to a variety of science-related careers. Each session will include a presentation from an expert or specialist and conclude with a Q&A portion with participants. All sessions are free to attend and open to the public. Overall, the series has reached more than 300 people from across the country.

“It is inspiring to see scientists take the time to teach youth about their work,” said Kasey Bozeman, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension 4-H specialist for Science and Environmental Education Programs. “Anything we can do to get young people excited about science topics and potentially inspire science careers is a wise investment of our time. I am particularly excited that we will be featuring some researchers from within UGA’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences over the next few months.”

The next session, to be held August 6, will highlight plant genetics. Participants will be joined by Wayne Parrott of the UGA Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics and Genomics. During his session, Parrott will share information about genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and genome editing in plants. Participants can register for the session at tinyurl.com/scizoomplantgenetics.

The next session will be held on August 20 and will highlight rats. Idaho State University doctoral student Aimee Bozeman will focus on rats and how they can be used to study human behavior and motion. Participants can register for the session at tinyurl.com/scizoomrats.

A session on September 3 will feature Angela Bliss, stormwater specialist with the Chatham County Department of Engineering. She will be sharing information on stormwater, the importance of preventing water pollution and how to label storm drains. Participants can register for the session at tinyurl.com/scizoomstormwater.

The following session, on September 17, will focus on the genetics of some of our favorite fruits and vegetables and why they have their shapes. Participants will be joined by UGA Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics and Genomics Professor Esther van der Knaap. Participants can register for the session at tinyurl.com/scizoomproduce.

A session on October 1 will feature Georgia 4-H staff at the Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island. They will be sharing information on sea turtles, and participants will have a chance to meet current turtle patients and hear their recovery stories. Participants can register for the session at tinyurl.com/scizoomseaturtles.

The next session, to be held October 15, will highlight food safety. Participants will be joined by Manpreet Singh of the UGA Department of Poultry Science. During his session, Singh will share information about bacteria, food safety and the importance of washing your hands. Participants can register for the session at tinyurl.com/scizoomfoodsafety.

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 UGA 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.

Authors:
Cristina Luisa deRevere
Experts/Sources:
Kasey Bozeman
Zoom into Science will continue in the fall, beginning August 6.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Download Image
A Master Gardener with UGA Extension teaches a class at the GROWL Fulton County Demonstration and Teaching Garden. (Submitted photo) CAES News
Volunteers uplift statewide UGA Extension outreach programs 04/22/24 Sheri Dorn, Keri Gandy Hobbs
University of Georgia Cooperative Extension depends on thousands of volunteers who give generously to extend program impact and reach in support Extension missions. During Volunteer Appreciation Week April 21-28, UGA Extension celebrates the many volunteers who donate their time to facilitate 4-H, Master Gardener and Family and Consumer Sciences programming. Volunteers across Extension contributed over 324,200 hours in 2023, the equivalent of more than 155 full-time employees.
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.