As members of West Virginia University’s EnvironMentors Chapter, 16 area high school students will present their findings during a science fair from 3 – 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 29 in the lobby of Percival Hall on the Evansdale Campus.
From the impact of Marcellus Shale gas extraction to the effects of cigarette litter on plant growth, these young scientists have explored a variety of topics during the last eight months.
“The program evolves each year to better serve the students and mentors,” explained Catherine Artis, coordinator for the WVU EnvironMentors Chapter. “Students get the opportunity to delve into topics that fascinate them and mentors become coaches, role models and cheerleaders. Each year I am impressed with the topics the students choose to pursue and the poster fair is a great opportunity for students to present what they have learned.”
Developed by the National Council for Science and Environment, EnvironMentors is a national environment-based mentoring program that provides high school students with the opportunity to work with researchers and professionals to develop scientifically rigorous research projects. The program also promotes future studies and careers in environmental science fields.
At the April 29 event, WVU’s EnvironMentors high school students will share their research projects with the WVU community through a juried poster session. The top three students will compete this May against students from 12 chapters across the country in the National EnvironMentors Fair held in Washington, D.C.
Three students from last year’s cohort competed at the national level. Emma Mathers, a student at Morgantown High School and second-year EnvironMentors participant, placed second and was awarded an Excellence in Environmental Research Scholarship.
The fair is open to the public. For more information, contact Catherine Artis at ceartis@mix.wvu.edu.