“This is literally the coolest thing I’ve ever heard.” That’s what a participant said at the January 27, 2022 VTeen Science Cafe hosted by UVM Extension 4-H, and taught by PSS Associate Professor Eric Bishop von Wettberg and PSS Post-Doctoral Associate Giovanna Sassi. They offered an online evening session called Culturing Cells for Healthier Soils, which provided participating teens with an introduction to the topic, and to the new AgroTek program overall. On February 9, CDAE Assistant Professor Steve Kostell presented a Zoom session on Design Innovation Mindset: Shifting the Waste to Value Paradigm (the video recording is below).
Attendees and any interested 7th – 12th graders are invited to apply for the 2022 Summer Academies, taking place on UVM campus from June 26 to July 1. Registration is open now, with an application deadline of April 1.
Project Director and 4-H State Leader Sarah Kleinman stated, “We are excited to work with our CALS and Extension colleagues to help build a workforce that’s well versed in technology, the opportunities in agriculture and the shifting needs of the broader community. We’re especially looking forward to welcoming students who may not see themselves as future scientists, but care about building a good future. We want to help build their skills.”