Quechee, VT – Through guided, collaborative teaching, the Science Symposium gets students engaged in authentic, real-world science projects.
VINS Educators work with each class to identify a problem in their community, facilitate scientific research and data collection, provide guidance on developing solutions, and prepare them for presenting their findings at the annual Science Symposium event at the VINS Nature Center in May. The Science Symposium creates a deeper understanding and excitement for science, engineering, and the environment through a project and place-based community approach to education.
This year’s themes include Life and the Lithosphere, Life and the Hydrosphere, Life and the Atmosphere, and Community Problem Solvers.
This three-day event will be held on May 6, 7 and 8. This year VINS has 14 schools participating with a total of 290 students. On each day grades 4-8 from the various schools will participate on one particular day to present their project’s findings. Each day has a different subject and keynote speaker. The schedule is the following:
MONDAY, MAY 6
Equitable Climate Action Project
Project Themes:
Participating ECAP Teacher projects addressing climate action projects in local communities
Keynote Speaker:
Dr. Lesley-Ann Dupigny-Giroux
Vermont State Climatologist
University of Vermont
TUESDAY, MAY 7
Life and the Hydrosphere
Project Themes:
Trout in the Classroom, Water Quality and River/Stream Ecosystem Health
Keynote Speaker:
Dr. Katharine Donahue
Anthropologist, Professor Emerita at Plymouth State University
WEDNESDAY, MAY 8
Life and the Atmosphere &
Lithosphere
Project Themes:
Weather Data Collection, Bird Migration and Bird Monitoring, Nature Trail Maintenance, Composting
Keynote Speaker:
Dr. Ashley Lang
Ecosystem Ecologist