From the Oklahoma Environmental Education Expo website:
REGISTER NOW! THE EE EXPO WILL BE FEBRUARY 7TH, 2014 AT THE OKLAHOMA CITY ZOO!
We are excited about our line-up of presentations and keynote speaker. This year’s keynote is Darlene Cavalier – the Science Cheerleader! Read more about her work on citizen science and changing the image of science at her websites – Science Cheerleader and SciStarter.
The Expo’s schedule will be full of citizen science and hands-on activities for learners of all ages and educators of all types. No matter if you home school elementary children, teach high school physical science, or lead nature walks at a park, the EE Expo will have something for you to discover. Here is an example of the presentations this year:
Citizen Scientists use simple, inexpensive tools to record and share just how much precipitation fell in their very own backyards.
The BEST, the Bald Eagle Survey Team, are Citizen Scientists helping the Sutton Avian Research Center record and monitor bald eagle nests in Oklahoma.
Familiarize yourself with Conservation Trunk activities offered by your local conservation district. Get a chance to try an activity: Find the abandoned “toxic” lemonade in Puckerville!
Explore several Citizen Science apps and see how they align with the upcoming Oklahoma Academic Standards for Science (iPads will be provided during session).
The Oklahoma Green Schools program is designed to let Citizen Scientists collect and analyze data and design a student-led project that will impact their school.
You might have noticed that this year’s theme is Citizen Science.
What is Citizen Science?
Families watching birds at their feeders, farmers checking their rain gauge, and kids watching the redbuds bloom in their schoolyard are all participating in Citizen Science. All over the country, people from all walks of life are becoming Citizen Scientists by assisting with scientific investigations – asking questions, collecting data, and/or interpreting results.
Citizen Scientists contribute many more and varied observations compared to traditional scientific research. Citizen Science projects often focus on an issue that requires data to be gathered over long periods of time or wide geographic areas. Projects vary from simple observations to scheduled data collection that requires training and significant time commitment. Ongoing projects cover many different sciences ranging from aquatic invasive species to native bees, from pollen to stardust, and from urban birds to arctic glaciers. Successful projects may only have handful of participants at a local park or many thousands of observers located across the globe.
SCHEDULE
(Subject to Change)
8:00-8:30 Packet pick-up, light breakfast with coffee and juice
8:30-9:45 Introduction and Keynote Speaker – Darlene Cavalier of Science Cheerleader.
9:45-11:30 Concurrent Presentations
11:30-12:30 Lunch, included in your registration fee
12:30-1:15 Concurrent Presentations
1:15-2:00 Afternoon mixer with snacks and beverages – meet the Keynote Speaker and other Presenters!
2:00-2:45 Concurrent Presentations
3:00-3:30 Wrap-up and Door Prizes
3:30-4:00 Oklahoma Association for Environmental Education Business Meeting – get involved and meet the Board
Register here!
Oklahoma Zoo and Botanical Gardens + Oklahoma Association for Environmental Education = Citizen Science!
