On Saturday, June 1, 2024, Christopher Newport University and Newport News Public Schools in Virginia hosted the annual Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics (STEM) Community Day, drawing thousands of community members. The event highlighted various aspects of STEM fields and careers, providing hands-on experiences through interactive exhibits by nearly 100 exhibitors.
One of the main attractions at the event was the National Institute of Aerospace’s Center for Integrated STEM Education (NIA-CISE) educators, who engaged learners of all ages with a 13-foot tree. Participants had the opportunity to learn how to measure tree height using a clinometer, and volunteers, also known as “citizen scientists,” helped explain why NASA collects this data. One reason mentioned was to calculate the amount of carbon trees and forests absorb or release into the atmosphere. Families were also able to take home kits to make their own clinometers.
Another engaging activity offered by the NIA-CISE team focused on Earth’s energy balance. Participants selected cards of activities that either reflected energy back to space or were absorbed by Earth. They had to decide whether these activities belonged to the “in” or “out” side of Earth’s energy balance, adding an interactive element to learning about this important concept.