New year of PARI SciGirls programs begins Sept. 25

Press Release

From Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute (PARI)

(September 11, 2012) – Area girls ages 9-14 are invited to kick off a new year of PARI SciGirls programs Tuesday, September 25, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Brevard High School Senior Erika Williams will discuss efforts to save forests in North Carolina and present ways young people can get involved. The event will be co-hosted by the Transylvania County 4-H at the County Extension Center, 98 East Morgan Street in Brevard. The monthly SciGirls programs are affiliated with the national effort to engage girls in science sponsored by Twin Cities Public Television.

“Erika Williams has been a very active science student at Brevard High School,” said Christi Whitworth, PARI education director, “and in addition to her forest restoration presentation she will share with the girls how she has pursued science topics in high school. Erika’s forestry work is part of a statewide ‘Tiny Terrors’ program designed to address the infestation of woolly adelgids that have been attacking and destroying our balsam and hemlock trees. Erika will explain the problem to our SciGirls and show them ways they can become active participants helping to save this valuable part of our mountain environment.”

PARI hosts a SciGirls event 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, www.pari.edu. Participants can register at 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.

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 Forest 30 miles southwest of Asheville, NC, the PARI campus is a dark sky location for astronomy and 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. The Astronomical Photographic Data Archive housed on the PARI campus is the North American repository for historic astronomical images. A member of the NC Grassroots Science Museums Collaborative, PARI’s Exhibit Gallery displays a collection of rare meteorites and has been designated by NASA to receive Space Shuttle artifacts, many of which have flown in space. PARI is a partner in NC OPT-ED and is affiliated with the 16-campus University of North Carolina system through PARSEC, a UNC Center hosted at PARI. For more information about PARI and its programs, visit www.pari.edu. Follow PARI on Twitter at http://twitter.com/Astronomy_PARI. “Like” PARI on Facebook at 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. It is open to young people ages 5 to 16 years old. By pursuing their interests through participation in 4-H clubs, workshops, school programs, camps and competitive teams, young people gain valuable life skills and learn about becoming contributing citizens. To find out more about 4-H opportunities contact 4-H Agent Mary Arnaudin at Arnudin@ncsu.edu or call the Extension Center at 828-864-3109.