Week 4: February 23rd and 25th

On Tuesday February 23rd, we visited a few University of Pittsburgh Geology Labs that our Scientist, Justin, works in! It was a great experience and the teens learned a lot! We visited 4 labs in total and each was unique in its own way.

The first GeoLab we visited focused on water samples, bacteria and nitrates. In this lab, we learned that scientists can cultivate their own bacteria which can be used in experiments to determine different nitrate levels. The second GeoLab focused on measuring stable isotopes through a mass spectrometer. We learned how the mass spectrometer works and how scientists use this tool to trace air and water pollution. The third GeoLab focused on paleoclimatology and lake cores. Scientists use lake cores to trace and examine the atmosphere over time which helps to determine past climates. The teens were particularly interested in the different colored bacteria in the different time periods. The last GeoLab examined the gaseous flux of nitrogen from different soil samples. Using a vacuum-type system, scientists can measure different gas concentrations in the soil. This can help determine what gases are natural in soils and what are considered contamination. 

After our tours, we headed back down to the Carnegie Museum of Natural History where we finished the day by finishing our Solutions-Based Project where we determined where to build a hypothetical community while meeting its energy demands and being environmentally conscious.

The students discuss their decisions about where to build the community with the other stakeholders' opinions being considered. The map in the back displays what the teens were given.

 

Week 3: February 18th

For this week, there was only one EnergyNET session since the Tuesday session was cancelled due to bad weather.  On Thursday the teens spent the day working on a solution based project, in which they were split into different groups (environmentalists, fossil fuel companies, and local government) and each were given specific roles.  The project dealt with building new communities in Eastern Pennsylvania, and the students had to work together to decide where to build the community along with determining whether to use wind turbines, fossil fuels, or a combination of both as their electricity source.

The teens split into the three groups working with each other to decide what would be the best option for each of their specific positions.  The teens then talked to other groups to debate and negotiate their standpoints to figure out an outcome.  Most came to a decision, but they continued their discussion the following session until a final result was reached.

Students working in groups on solution based project

Week 2: February 9th & 11th

February 9th

For this session, we first started off by splitting into two groups and played the “celebrity game”, where a team member was given a name of a person/something and the rest of the group had to guess what it was in a certain amount of time.  There were four rounds played, each round with a different variation of charades.

The continued focus of EnergyNet from last week into this week was acid rain; how it is formed, how it effects ecosystems, and ways the prevalence of acid rain can be reduced. To do this Justin gave a talk on power plant emissions, specifically Sulfur Dioxide and Nitric Oxides, ways these emissions can be reduced, and how acid rain affects ecosystems, primarily its affects on soil. One thing the teens wanted to know more about though was how acid rain affected animal life in these ecosystems, this led to a discussion on food webs and how changes in one part of a system can have drastic consequences for the entire food web.

Next, we had a discussion on what pH was by listing what the teens already knew and having Justin discuss it more in length.  It was then used to discuss the relationship with acid rain and how having rain with a lower pH will make it more acidic.  The teens then discussed the process of how acid rain is formed and what the major effects of it are on our environment.

Using the information learned and discussed about acid rain, the teens were then split into two groups and given time to create and film an acid rain skit.  Each group created their own props, and both were filmed in the Hall of Habitats.  After it was filmed, both groups recapped what they learned and were mainly focused on how habitats are being destroyed, affecting both plant and animal life.

                                                                               

The teens acting out, in a play-form, how the process of acid rain formation and its effects on plants and animals.

February 11th

On Thursday the focus shifted away from teaching about air quality problems and more towards designing the exhibit. To start this off we discussed what we wanted the exhibit to look like and the major goals for the exhibit. Following this we went on a tour of the space where the exhibit will be housed to see how this would affect the design of the final exhibit. After this we went to look at an example of a well designed exhibit, the new Pterosaurs exhibit at the museum. After the teens had awhile to examine the design elements and see what people liked and didn't like about the exhibit we returned to the classroom to discuss what everyone had discovered. The highlight of the day had yet to come though, to end the day everyone was treated to a tour of the amphibians and reptiles section of the museum including a behind the scenes look at some of the research being done!

Teens looking at some of the specimens housed at the museum

Week 1: February 2nd and 4th

February 2nd

Welcome Back!

We welcomed the new semester by performing some icebreaker activities and meeting the new teens and interns. It was great seeing all of the old and new faces! After the introductions we  recapped last semester's projects. We broke into our teams and presented our museum exhibit pieces to the group. Then we went over what we'll be doing over the course of the spring semester. We have a lot of exciting things in store!

After going over this semester's plan we practiced our observation and research skills. The teens and interns observed unrelated materials in a shoe box and answered small-detail oriented questions about the items. Through this game the teens leaned the importance of taking good-quality notes and paying close attention to detail. After the game the teens broke up into groups and researched why Pittsburgh has the 9th worse air quality in the nation. The teens came up with a lot of great answers including causes such as industry, geography and urbanization.

We wrapped up today's session by revealing our project teams for the semester. We're looking forward to what's in store this term! 

The teens and interns in their project groups.

The teens and interns in their project groups.

February 4th 

Today we started off with a game in the hall of sculpture.  They each randomly picked two people that they had to move to be equal distance from.  Everyone picked different people which made things complex and interesting!  The game paralleled the inter-connectivity of the climate system.

Next, we had a discussion on climate change.  We went over some background information, some causes and effects, future predictions and why there are some who deny climate change is occurring.

Then, we performed an experiment that simulated the effects of greenhouse gases.  We filled plastic bottles each with air, carbon dioxide, and moist air.  We placed the bottles under lamps and tested how the different gases contributed to the change in temperature in the bottles!

Lastly, we had a "Big Picture" discussion about the experiment.  We discussed positive and negative feedback loops and why they are important when talking about greenhouse gases.

 Justin leading a discussion on feedback loops.