What STEM-ulating activities are happening in West Virginia?
Ongoing activities and events
Marshall to host 6th Cyber Safety Summit for middle-school students and local community
The Marshall University Digital Forensics and Information Assurance program will host the 6th annual Cyber Safety Summit for middle-school students and the local community Oct. 23-24 in Huntington.
This year’s event will have two sessions. The first will be tailored for middle-school students and will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday, Oct. 23, at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena. A session for parents and adults will be from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 24, at Huntington East Middle School. Participants can learn how to prevent cyber bullying, keep themselves and their families safe online, handle the dangers of social media, keep their information and computers safe, and identify scams. They can also find out how and why criminals target them and more.
“We recognize the need for this type of education,” said John Sammons, director of the Digital Forensics and Information Assurance program at Marshall University. “Technology is a huge part of most children’s lives, particularly from middle school going forward. It’s only smart and prudent to give them the awareness and skills to keep themselves safe online.”
“Parents are often far behind the kids when it comes to technology,” Sammons said. “We would like to provide them with as much information as we can to help them protect their children.”
This event is attended by hundreds of students from the Tri-State region each year. It is sponsored by the Digital Forensics and Information Assurance program, the Huntington Police Department, the FBI and the Appalachian Institute of Digital Evidence.
Teachers can register their classes for a field trip to the summit. Reserve seats before Oct. 19 by contacting Sammons at sammons17@marshall.edu or by calling 304-696-7241.
Science Saturdays, Marshall University
Clubs that happen each Saturday:
- 10:00-11:50 Chess Club
- 12:00-1:50 Science Club
- 2:00-3:50 Pokemon Go Strategy Training Club
Every weekend through May 2017 except April 8 (Science Blitz Day – free Science event) and April 16
Suggested ages: 8 and up. For more information, email: WVScienceAdventures@gmail.com or call at 304-412-2757.
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Forensic Science Saturdays, West Virginia University
The West Virginia University Next Generation Forensic Science Initiative is offering
educational opportunities in different aspects of forensic science to middle school and high school students one Saturday a month throughout the 2015-2016 school year. All classes are taught through hands-on, laboratory based activities. Each class will conclude with a case study. The final class titled, “You Crack the Case”, will be open to students who participated in at least five classes; this final class will let students apply their accumulated knowledge to a mock crime scene at the WVU Crime Scene Complex. For more information contact Chris Bily by email (Chris.Bily@mail.wvu.edu) or phone at (304) 293-9496.
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West Virginia University Extension Service STEM Program
The WVU E
xtension Service 4-H Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Program endeavors to create programming that fosters an appreciation for science, engineering, and technology in West Virginia youth and equip them with the skills they need to compete in the 21st century. This is promoted through community STEM events, University service projects, volunteer leader training, teaching activities and a variety of STEM curriculum. Statewide experiential learning in STEM includes a broad array of disciplines including forensics, chemistry, astronomy, robotics, mechanical and electrical engineering, water quality, and agriculture. WVU Extension Service’s 4-H program reaches 1 in 4 state youth each year in a variety of event settings including summer camping programs, club meetings, in school and after school activities. This allows WVU to bring hands-on science experiences to children in rural communities and to a statewide youth audience of more than 77,000 children. For more information on STEM programming, contact Jen Robertson-Honecker, WVU Extension Service STEM specialist, at Jen.Robertson@mail.wvu.edu.
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Clay Center, Charleston
Planetarium and Giant Screen Films showing daily.
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Morgan County Observatory Foundation Public Star Parties
Public Star Parties take place on regularly-scheduled Friday evenings at the Morgan County Observatory. There is stargazing, refreshments, movies and hands on astronomy exhibits to entertain people of all ages. The Observatory is open whether the sky is cloudy or clear, but could be canceled at the last minute due to severe weather conditions. For more information or to check the calendar for upcoming star parties, click here.
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Do you have a STEMulating event or activity for elementary, middle and/or high school students? Send info to Communications Manager, Amanda Ramey.