Families, schoolteachers and students invited to Science in the Community at the Ridges on Aug. 22

Community members, families and teachers are invited to join in science activities and explore STEM resources with first-year Ohio University students at Science in the Community from 4:30 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 22, at the Museum Complex at the Ridges.

Science in the Community is hosted by more than 70 students participating in STEMstart, a College of Arts and Sciences program that brings students to campus a week early to get immersed in the science community and get ready for first-semester biology, chemistry and mathematics coursework, along with fun activities like "CSI Athens" and aquatic biology.

"The goals of the STEMstart community day are to give the incoming first-year science majors some confidence and an opportunity to talk about STEM concepts with their new community in Athens and to partner with the OHIO Museum Complex on an outreach day that helps to inform folks about all the cool things the Ridges has to offer in terms of STEM activities and resources," said Stephanie Miller, co-director of STEMstart and associate professor of instruction in biological sciences.

The event is open to the campus and community, including faculty, students, schoolteachers and their families.

Activities will include guided outdoor hikes, learning about macroinvertebrates with the My Backyard Stream team, and experience the small world with a microscope.

STEM resources for Science in the Community day include representatives from:

• Appalachian Semiconductor Education and Technical (ASCENT) Ecosystem
• Women in Science and Technology
• Sustainable Ohio Public Energy Council (SOPEC)
• Ohio Academy of Science
• Ohio STEM Learning Network
• And more!

Miller noted that faculty from both the Athens and regional campuses are collaborating on this event and more activities dedicated to STEM education in Southeast Ohio.