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ENLARGE
Teresa Middleton
For more than 100 years, 4-H has been at the forefront of teaching youth about science, engineering and technology. Oct. 7 has been declared 4-H National Youth Science Day. This takes place every year during National 4-H Week (Oct. 4 through 10). 4-H National Science Day is an important part of 4-H's One Million New Scientists, One Million New Ideas campaign that was developed to help combat a national shortage of young people pursuing science college majors and careers. Currently, more than five million youth across the nation take part in 4-H science, engineering and technology programs all year long. The programs range from robotics, rocketry, and computer science, to agricultural science, GPS mapping and renewable energy. According to a longitudinal study by Tufts University, youth who participate in 4-H programs are more likely to get better grades in school, to seek out science classes, to see themselves going to college, and to contribute positively in their communities. 4-H has the bold goal to engage 1 million new young people in science, engineering and technology programs by the year 2013.
Last year, 4-H National Youth Science Day kicked off its inaugural year by partnering with Steve Spangler to showcase Helpful Hydrogels, an experiment that uses scientific principles to teach youth across the nation about water conservation. This year, as part of 4-H National Youth Science Day, youth will participate in Biofuel Blast, the 2009 National Science Experiment. The purpose of having a day in which hundreds of thousands of young people will be engaged in the same science experiment is to spark an early youth interest in science and science education. Sometimes science can often seem intimidating to young people, but 4-H National Youth Science Day makes science fun, real, and accessible. Six million 4-H youth and 514,000 volunteers nationwide will lead parents, teachers, students and other youth organizations in 4-H National Youth Science Day.
This year's experiment will teach youth how cellulose and sugars in plants such as corn, switchgrass, sorghum and algae can be converted into fuel and how alternative energies can be used in their communities. These fuel alternatives — researched by the 106 Land-Grant Universities and Colleges across the nation that oversee 4-H youth development programs in every state — differ by region throughout the U.S., providing an opportunity for youth to learn about their home regions as well as others. In fact, Oregon State University researchers are working on using one of the world's most plentiful organisms — algae — to process into biofuels.
While there are both pros and cons to biofuels, they aren't a new concept. In 1908, Henry Ford produced the Model T as a flexible fuel vehicle. It could run on kerosene, gasoline or ethanol. Who knows, maybe the 4-H experiment will spur on a future scientist who will solve the nation's fuel problems. For more information, go online to 4-h.org/NYSD/ and watch for Douglas County OSU Extension's 4-H National Youth Science Day event on Oct. 7.
Teresa Middleton is the 4-H education program assistant at OSU Extension Service of Douglas County. She can be reached by e-mail at teresa.middleton@oregonstate.edu or by phone at 672-4461.
Last year, 4-H National Youth Science Day kicked off its inaugural year by partnering with Steve Spangler to showcase Helpful Hydrogels, an experiment that uses scientific principles to teach youth across the nation about water conservation. This year, as part of 4-H National Youth Science Day, youth will participate in Biofuel Blast, the 2009 National Science Experiment. The purpose of having a day in which hundreds of thousands of young people will be engaged in the same science experiment is to spark an early youth interest in science and science education. Sometimes science can often seem intimidating to young people, but 4-H National Youth Science Day makes science fun, real, and accessible. Six million 4-H youth and 514,000 volunteers nationwide will lead parents, teachers, students and other youth organizations in 4-H National Youth Science Day.
This year's experiment will teach youth how cellulose and sugars in plants such as corn, switchgrass, sorghum and algae can be converted into fuel and how alternative energies can be used in their communities. These fuel alternatives — researched by the 106 Land-Grant Universities and Colleges across the nation that oversee 4-H youth development programs in every state — differ by region throughout the U.S., providing an opportunity for youth to learn about their home regions as well as others. In fact, Oregon State University researchers are working on using one of the world's most plentiful organisms — algae — to process into biofuels.
While there are both pros and cons to biofuels, they aren't a new concept. In 1908, Henry Ford produced the Model T as a flexible fuel vehicle. It could run on kerosene, gasoline or ethanol. Who knows, maybe the 4-H experiment will spur on a future scientist who will solve the nation's fuel problems. For more information, go online to 4-h.org/NYSD/ and watch for Douglas County OSU Extension's 4-H National Youth Science Day event on Oct. 7.
Teresa Middleton is the 4-H education program assistant at OSU Extension Service of Douglas County. She can be reached by e-mail at teresa.middleton@oregonstate.edu or by phone at 672-4461.
