Press release

from PARI

“Our second EcoBots program will involve modifying EcoBots to clear challenges more effectively,” said PARI Education Director Christi Whitworth. “Attendance at our first EcoBots program last month is not required because for new girls we will provide base model EcoBots so they can join in the fun. The SciGirls will also be rating the designs they develop to determine what is most effective.”

"EcoBots are mini-robots that can be used to simulate an environmental cleanup" said County 4-H Agent Mary Arnaudin, “and are a key part of the 2012 4-H National Science Experiment developed by Ohio State University Extension. In our October program our SciGirls enhanced their engineering skills by learning to think like a robotics engineer. The girls are learning to assemble their own EcoBots and test environmental design features using various control surface configurations. As with all of our SciGirls programs, this is a real hands-on activity that makes science fun.”

SciGirls events are scheduled the last Tuesday of each month during the school year. The participation fee is $10 per student. Program details, specific hours and registration details can be found on the PARI web site, http://www.pari.edu. Participants can register at http://www.pari.edu/programs/students/scigirls. Area teachers and parents are asked to encourage girls who may be interested. The national SciGirls web site is http://pbskids.org/scigirls.