Exhibit Opening: How's The Air Up There? - Saturday, April 9th

This year's exhibit is opening this Saturday, April 9th at 12 PM! The focus this year has been on air quality and its effects on nature, humans, and the Pittsburgh region.  In particular, we looked at Pittsburgh's current and past air quality with an eye on Pittsburgh's prospects for the future.

We are planning to illustrate the history of air quality in Pittsburgh with a mural and timeline highlighting major events in Pittsburgh's air quality history. To coincide with the mural, we will also be including video interviews from multiple generations of Pittsburghers who will share their experiences with the city's air quality. Another part of the exhibit will illustrate acid rain and the effects it has on plants, animals, and ecosystems as a whole. There will also be a pH game, a time-lapse video, and much more!  Please join us for the final Energy-Net exhibit opening, it is sure to be a fantastic time for people of all ages.

Week 8: Powdermill Nature Reserve Field Trip!!!

April 2nd

On Saturday, April 2nd, we took a field trip with some of the high school students down to the Carnegie Museum's Powdermill Nature Reserve in Rector, PA! A former Powdermill employee, Joe Stavish met us down at the reserve in order to give us a tour as we hiked through the woods. We learned how to differentiate different native trees in the Appalachian Plateau Province and also learned about how to tell whether an ecosystem is healthy or not. 

The Powdermill Nature Reserve grounds in Rector, PA.

We also headed down to the stream on the grounds and searched for some salamanders. We learned that some of the grounds on the nature reserve are located in a floodplain and we learned how to tell where the end of the floodplain was based on the landscape. 

A salamander found beneath a rock near the stream.

The stream found at the Powdermill Nature Reserve. 

We finished off the tour by exploring a bird-banding station located on the reserve grounds. Joe explained that scientists at the nature reserve put nets up and capture birds, band them with a metal bracelet in order to look at migratory paths, and release them back into the wild. We then explored the center for a little longer and hopped back on the bus to go back to Pittsburgh. We had a great time down at Powdermill Nature Reserve, it's always fun to be in nature!

Joe Stavish explains to the students how bird banding happens at the nature reserve and its importance in scientific studies of migratory birds.

Week 8: March 29th & 31th

After a week off for spring break, we came back this week and spent most of our time working on our exhibits.  The teens split up into smaller groups to each work on different exhibits.  We planned out the supplies needed, and gathered everything necessary to make the exhibits a success.  The teens have been working this week getting everything built and prepared according to their plan.   The environmental interns have worked hard as well in giving insight and a helping hand to the teens wherever needed.  We are all excited to show everyone what we have been working on!

Shelly working on her game to teach people about pH

One of our Environmental Interns, Grace (right), and a student, Alexus (left), priming an exhibit piece