UAF, NASA create snow science outreach program
Rod Boyce
907-474-7185
March 14, 2023
Scientists at the University of AV狼论坛 Fairbanks have partnered with NASA to create SnowEd, a nationwide program designed to engage the public in snow science. The program includes STEM activities, videos, blogs and other tools to help the public understand the importance of snow, the source of drinking and irrigation water for billions of people worldwide.
Serina Wesen and Hannah Chapman-Dutton work with students at the SnowEd kickoff event on Jan. 28, 2023.
SnowEd complements NASA鈥檚 program, which aims to increase scientific understanding of snow mass on Earth. Snow is a key factor in the timing of spring green-up in AV狼论坛 and a crucial element in cooling the Earth鈥檚 climate. SnowEx scientists hope to launch a snow satellite dedicated to monitoring snow-water resources worldwide.
SnowEd allows elementary school students to explore the properties of snow indoors using. The kits include STEM activities for groups of up to five students in third through fifth grade. UAF has also designed kits for larger groups of older children and adults to use outdoors.
The UAF team has produced 800 small and 45 large kits for distribution throughout AV狼论坛 and across the United States. Students can join SnowEd and become snow scientists by reaching out to their local. In AV狼论坛, SnowEd is partnering with the program, which conducts both winter and summer science projects.
A snow science walk is scheduled for 1 p.m. Thursday, March 16, at the Creamer鈥檚 Field farmhouse in Fairbanks. Participants will learn about the NASA SnowEx campaign, measure snowpack depth and learn about layers within the snowpack.
The UAF team includes Serina Wesen, education and outreach designer with the UAF Geophysical Institute鈥檚 snow, ice and permafrost group, and Matthew Sturm, UAF snow professor and geophysicist. They鈥檝e joined the Winter Wildlands Alliance, the NASA Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment program, COSI and NASA SnowEx researchers for the SnowEd campaign.
鈥淲e are excited to help connect students with NASA SnowEx scientists and introduce them to snow subjects that may help inspire them toward future careers,鈥 Wesen said.
To learn more about SnowEd, refer to the links below.
Additional links:
ADDITIONAL CONTACTS: Serina Wesen, smwesen@alaska.edu Matthew Sturm, msturm1@alaska.edu; Kerry McClay, Winter Wildlands Alliance SnowSchool director, kmcclay@winterwildlands.org; Christi Buffington, UAF GLOBE Program, cbuffington@alaska.edu
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