Girls ages 9-14 invited to SciGirls insulation testing program at PARI

Here’s the press release from Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute:

Rosman, NC (January 13, 2014) – Area girls ages 9-14 are invited to a SciGirls program Tuesday, January 28, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Transylvania County Extension Office, 98 East Morgan Street, in Brevard. Using the “Insulation Station” activity from the SciGirls national curriculum, the girls will learn how insulation affects the temperature of a structure. The monthly SciGirls programs are co-hosted by PARI and Transylvania County 4-H, and affiliated with the national effort to engage girls in science sponsored by Twin Cities Public Television.

“This month we will feature a special guest speaker, architect Stephanie Holland,” said PARI Education Director Christi Whitworth. “She will help us work with the girls to test the insulating properties of different materials and discover how they affect a building’s temperature. The girls will install insulation on building models and measure temperatures over a period of time. All our programs are designed to emphasize learning about science with fun activities, so we encourage all girls ages 9-14 to join us. Prior participation in SciGirls is not required.”

SciGirls events are typically scheduled 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, HYPERLINK “http://www.pari.edu” www.pari.edu. Participants can register at HYPERLINK “http://www.pari.edu/programs/students/scigirls” 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 HYPERLINK “http://pbskids.org/scigirls” http://pbskids.org/scigirls.

About PARI

The Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute (PARI) is a public not-for-profit 501 (c) (3) foundation established in 1998. Located in the Pisgah National Forest 30 miles southwest of Asheville, NC, the PARI campus was selected in 1962 by NASA as the site for one of the first U.S. satellite tracking facilities. Today, the 200 acre campus houses radio and optical telescopes, earth science instruments, 30 buildings, a fulltime staff and all the infrastructure necessary to support STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education and research. PARI offers educational programs at all levels, from K-12 through post-graduate research.

PARI is home to the Astronomical Photographic Data Archive and a member of the NC Grassroots Science Museums Collaborative. PARI’s Exhibit Gallery displays a collection of rare meteorites as well as NASA Space Shuttle artifacts, many of which have flown in space. For more information about PARI and its programs, visit HYPERLINK “http://www.pari.edu” www.pari.edu. Follow PARI on Twitter at http://twitter.com/Astronomy_PARI. “Like” PARI on Facebook at HYPERLINK “http://www.facebook.com/Pisgah.Astronomical.Research.Institute” www.facebook.com/Pisgah.Astronomical.Research.Institute.

About Transylvania County 4-H

4-H is the youth development program of our nation’s Cooperative Extension System based at each of our Land Grant Universities.  For more than 100 years, 4-H has been at the forefront of teaching youth about science, engineering, and technology.  

Open to young people from 5 to 18 years old, 4-H programs help develop leadership, citizenship and life skills.  Locally, 4-H’ers are learning about science, horses, cooking, gardening, farming, leadership, action planning, public speaking and livestock judging.  To find out more about 4-H opportunities contact 4-H Agent Mary Arnaudin at HYPERLINK “mailto:Mary_Arnaudin@ncsu.edu”Mary_Arnaudin@ncsu.edu or call the Extension Center at 828-884-3109.