Throughout July, Pitt’s Youth Science Communication Workshop will be hosting a series of events in Pittsburgh for middle schoolers interested in environmental science. The one-day workshops will include nature outings at the Frick Park Nature Center on July 11 and the Allegheny Observatory in Riverview Park on July 13. These programs aim to introduce students to environmental education and computer science, allowing them to investigate a topic, gather data, and utilize basic coding to communicate and share their findings. Through these workshops, participants will learn valuable methods for communicating science while also developing digital literacy skills.
Stephen Quigley, the program organizer and 2023-24 John C. Mascaro Faculty Lecturer in Sustainability, is especially looking forward to the river health event on July 16 and the sustainable design event on July 25, both of which will take place at the Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation. Quigley expressed excitement about exploring sustainable design problems and solutions with middle schoolers, noting how their curiosity and creativity often lead to innovative approaches for understanding and communicating technical information about the built environment.
Students do not need any prior experience working with code in order to participate in the workshops. Quigley emphasized that the program is designed to make web coding accessible to all participants. Attendees will not only learn about nature and environmental science but also gain a foundational understanding of how code functions and what it can achieve.
The Youth Science Communication Workshop is generously funded by the John C. Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation and Pitt’s Year of Data and Society. Interested individuals can register online to participate in these engaging and educational events.