Family Science Nights
The Center for Biology Education links UW-Madison researchers with Madison area schools for Family Science Night Programs. UW faculty/staff share their expertise and research interests with the K-12 education community. Ten to fifteen UW faculty and graduate student researchers gather at a local school to present workshops. These hands-on activities engage students, families and teachers in the process of scientific inquiry, and give students the opportunity to ask scientists questions about their careers. Workshops include topics such as:
- Dinosaur Terrariums - Build a terrarium with plants dinosaurs ate
- Wonderful Wacky Water Critters - Study the interesting creatures that inhabit Warner Park Lagoon
- Build a Bridge and Tear it Down - Become a real engineer as you build a wooden bridge and see how much weight it can carry before it collapses
- The Wonders of Physics - See liquid nitrogen, explosions, and much more
- Teachers and parents can call on CBE to assist in the planning of their school's Science Night/Day. The greater the lead time, the better the Science Night/Day!
If you would like to get involved you can volunteer to be a presenter at a Family Science Night/Day or inquire about opportunities with other CBE programs aimed at 'bridging the gap' between UW-Madison's research enterprises and the K-12 educational community.