Pittsburgh Middle Schoolers Invited to Join Environmental Science Workshop and Explore Sustainable Design Solutions

Middle schoolers in Pittsburgh who have an interest in environmental science can participate in the Pitt’s Youth Science Communication Workshop throughout July. The one-day workshops will take place at various locations, including the Frick Park Nature Center on July 11 and the Allegheny Observatory in Riverview Park on July 13. These events will introduce students to environmental education and computer science, allowing them to investigate a topic, gather data, and use basic coding to communicate their findings.

The goal of the workshop is to help participants learn methods for communicating science while developing digital literacies. Program organizer Stephen Quigley, who is also the 2023-24 John C. Mascaro Faculty Lecturer in Sustainability, is enthusiastic about the upcoming river health and sustainable design events to be held at the Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation on July 16 and July 25, respectively. Quigley enjoys exploring sustainable design problems and solutions with middle schoolers, as their curiosity and creativity often lead to new ways of understanding the built environment.

Quigley emphasized that students do not need any prior experience working with code to participate in the workshop. The program is designed to make web coding approachable for all participants. Those who attend the workshops will not only learn about nature but also gain a basic understanding of how code works. The Youth Science Communication Workshop is made possible by funding from the John C. Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation and Pitt’s Year of Data and Society. Interested individuals can register for the workshop online.

Stephen Quigley expressed his excitement about these upcoming events saying that “It’s always great to see young minds engaged with sustainability challenges,” he added, “I am looking forward to seeing how these kids come up with innovative solutions using technology.”