NY events for 4-H National Youth Science Day draw students and media attention

October 19, 2012

Eco-Bot Challenge in Johnson City

October 10, 2012, millions of young people across the nation became scientists for the day during the fifth annual 4-H National Youth Science Day (NYSD). NYSD brought together youth, volunteers, and educators from the nation's 111 land-grant colleges and universities to simultaneously complete the National Science Experiment.

This year's experiment, the 4-H Eco-Bot Challenge, had students cleaning up a simulated oil spill using scrubber robots they fashioned using toothbrush heads, watch batteries, and a vibrating pager motor. They used these mini, vibrating scrub brushes to scour a mat printed with a map and covered with rice and birdseed, to simulate the spill.

After Wednesday's session teachers were given a curriculum from Cornell Cooperative Extension and 4-H, which they can bring back to their classrooms and continue these activities with their students.

New York State 4-H is housed in the Bronfenbrenner Center. Valerie Adams-Bass is NY State 4-H Leader.

Students in Brooklyn creating their Eco-Bots. Brooklyn photos by Dr. Jackie Davis-Manigaulte.

NY 1 video coverage of a NYSD event in Brooklyn

Fox News 40 in Binghamton's video coverage of a Broome County NYSD event