Week 2: Pitt Campus Tour

Today we visited Pitt's Geology Department to interview Katie Redling, a lab manager, and Dr. Dan Bain, an assistant professor in Geology. Katie gave a tour of geochemistry lab where she analyzes water and sediment samples. The teens practiced their interviewing skills by asking Katie questions about her job.

Katie talking to the teens about her job as a lab manager.

Dr. Dan Bain talked to the teens about his research and his experience as a professor. He talked about research he conducted in Baltimore on sediment sources and different types of metals. The teens interviewed Dr. Bain and practiced operating the camera. 

Dr Bain talking about his favorite metals.

Next, we visited Pitt's Benedum Hall. There was a rooftop garden we visited, which is built on top of the engineering classrooms. Urban rooftop gardens help oxygenate the area, mitigate storm water runoff, and provide green space within a city. 

The green roof at Benedum Hall.

Posted by: Ravil, Justice, & Cameron

Week 2: Filming in the Snow

Today we learned how to film efficiently. Trica and Louis from Pittsburgh Film Makers gave a workshop on strategies for effective films. The teens learned how to use a camera, how to set up the tripod, different film terms, and types of shots. 

Practice using a video camera.

The teens also practiced making a short film about snow. They interviewed each other and made some b-roll shots. Some of the teens showed their videos in class and we critiqued their films.

Teens being interviewed about snow.

Post by: Ian Benjamin, Isaiah, Krissy, and special guest Kat.

Week 1: Creatively Critiquing Exhibits

Today was the second day of Energy-Net. We explored how to evaluate and improve exhibits. This included critiquing existing exhibits, seeing what works and what needs improved, and suggesting new ideas.

Exploring the "Playground Project" exhibit

We analyzed evaluation data from other exhibits to assess visitor experiences and discussed how we could improve the quality of the visitor experience.

Critiquing the "Art of the Future" exhibit

We then critiqued the "Playground Project" exhibit to identify what features of the exhibit were most interesting to us. Using this information we identified ways to improve our exhibit, including adding brighter colors, improve the quality of the video, and updating the instructions for the activities.

~ Isaiah, E.J., & Krissy

Week 1: An Exciting First Day!

Teen personal ambitions collages.

Today was the first day of Energy-Net for the spring semester and we are all really looking forward to this session!

Here are some of our thoughts when asked, "What are you most excited about this spring?!?!?!"

Lindsay:" I'm excited about opening the teens up to environmental issues and jobs that I care about!"

Lauren: "I am excited to improve upon last session's exhibit!"

Michelle: " I'm excited about working as a team"

Shountese-" I'm excited about being here and meeting new people."

Amber- "I am excited about doing field work. I am also excited about learning about the different jobs here in Pittsburgh."

Alannah: "I am excited about learning about local jobs in Pittsburgh!"

Isaiah: " I am excited about everything!"

Rebekah: "I'm excited about learning what environmental job opportunities are available in Pittsburgh."

Cameron:"I'm excited about helping keep Carnegie world class"

Justice: "I am excited about everything "

Oddyssey: "I am excited about learning new things and this amazing opportunity."

Lyza: "Im looking forward to learning more about green jobs"

Cierra:"I really enjoyed the first day back. I am really excited for when we finish our next the exhibit"

Mikayla: "Im happy to be participating in EnergyNet!"

E.J.: ''I'm lookin' forward to that warm weather, and working on the exhibit."

We have a lot of fun and educational field trips planned. Stayed tuned to learn more about what we discover about "green" jobs in Pittsburgh throughout the semester.

Week 11: Reflections from the Minds of EnergyNet

The Energy Net crew needs to make some changes to the exhibit. Over the weekend, visitors took their toll on some of the exhibit pieces. 

Observation 1: Green roof pieces and rain gardens proved to be less durable than expected, crumbling to pieces over the weekend. Today the teens replaced these components with simple green foam squares. To improve access to the city mat, we lifted the mat off the floor and onto a short table. 

Observation 2: Watershed model needs a sturdier box. Over the weekend, the plexiglass piece was broken in two by small children hanging on it. We are working on getting a stronger box to put the watershed model in. 

The teens had an impromptu poetry session today documenting challenges with the exhibit. Here is a sampling of their poems. 

Destroyed

By: Anna Bowin

How could this happen in three days?

How could they demolish our city?

Everything has come to an end.

It was too happy to be true, it was too happy to last.

The city is dead!

Destroyed rain gardens.

Paradise Lost

By: E.J. Gruber

Map is clearly suffering the after effects,

Of a recent Godzilla attack on the city,

Or  more likely deliquent teenagers.

The impacts of Godzilla.....

Disaster

By: Michelle Sheppard

The city is dead,

Alone and scared,

Not covered in red,

But much is not neared.

The grass is fading day by day.
There are no trees healthy and green,

The water is not coming out to play,

The thing who did this is really mean.

Only if they had a way.

The city is on its own.

If it was made out of clay,

It would have went to the bone.

The pet has been stolen,

From the city.

It was the only thing holding

They should really take a pity.

Disaster in the watershed.

Reconstruction

By: Isaiah Spencer

As we have seen,

In the poems before,

Destroyed, Attacked, Disaster,

Such negative scores.

I am here to tell,

of a more positive tale.

Yes, Pittsburgh was destroyed.

But, there still is hope,

And people to be employed.

We can rebuild this city,

And do it really quickly,

If we have more help,

It would sure be nifty.

Pollution Solutions Exhibit Opening Today!

Today is the opening day for Energy Net's Pollution Solutions exhibit at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History! The teens will be on hand to show off their exhibit to family and friends from 1-4 pm. 

The Energy Net Crew.

The teens will walk visitors through their two activities; Water Flows and Goes and Turn the Grey to Green.

The exhibit space

Sustainable city game.

Week 10: Final Touches

Our exhibit opens this Saturday! Today the teens put some of the final touches on their exhibit activities. The 3-D watershed model now has a frame! The teens filled in the remaining topography with paper mache. The landscape all slopes downhill towards the river. All that remains is the final paint job and placing the model inside the display box.

Finishing the paper mache for the Flow and Goes activity.

We had lots of little pieces to finish for the Grey to Green activity. The teens finished making 20 water cards for each sustainable practices. The cards show the installation cost and water captured by each practice. 

Water cards for the Grey to Green activity.

It was all hands on deck to glue and paint the remaining building blocks. Visitors will place these buildings on the cityscape. The teens also spray painted the rain barrels green and made some additional green roof and rain garden pieces. We should be all set to  assemble part of the exhibit on Thursday!

Gluing and painting the building blocks. 

Constructing the green roof squares.