NSF NCAR & UCAR Science Education

Calling all K-12 educators! 📚🌎

Want to be the first to hear about free classroom resources, upcoming teacher professional development opportunities, and spring field trips—both virtual and in-person?

Our FREE teacher newsletter delivers engaging Earth system science resources, classroom activities, and professional learning opportunities straight to your inbox during the school year.

Past newsletters have explored topics including:
🔥 Wildfire science for the classroom
🌍 Space weather and Earth system science
⚛️ The journey of atoms
🍎 Summer professional development opportunities
💬 Teacher reviews and PD workshop highlights

Join our community of educators and don't miss out on our latest resources and opportunities! Sign up today: https://scied.ucar.edu/newsletter?utm_source=sm

Tuesday evening, members of our team were at the Wilkinson Public Library for the Pinhead Institute, A Smithsonian Affiliate Punk Science: Surprising Science Superpowers of Air event!

Things got a little magical as our staff presented the NSF NCAR Wizards Science Demos, bringing the science of air to life through exciting, hands-on experiments. From colorful elephant toothpaste to exploring how warm and cool air behave with bubbles, and even discovering why flames need oxygen to burn, participants experienced the many "superpowers" of Earth's atmosphere in action.

We loved sharing the wonder of atmospheric science with so many curious minds. Thank you to everyone who joined us for an evening of curiosity, discovery, and a little scientific magic! ✨🪄

Last month, thirteen educators from rural Colorado districts came together at the NSF NCAR & UCAR Mesa Lab for the STEM Career Connections (STEMCC) Summer Institute! 🎉

Over three days, participants explored the STEMCC curriculum, gained hands-on experience with sensors for use in the classroom, collaborated across school districts, and co-designed STEM career and technology lessons for middle and high school students. Together, they also identified opportunities to build meaningful partnerships with local STEM organizations, helping connect classroom learning to careers in their own communities.

This Summer Institute was made possible through our strong collaboration with University of Colorado Boulder and Utah State University. We're grateful for the opportunity to work together to support rural educators and can't wait to see the connections, ideas, and classroom innovations that continue to grow from this partnership.

This project is supported by funding from the National Science Foundation.

In the Telluride area? Join us this evening for some super cool science!

Definitely don't miss next week's Punk Science with the Science Wizards from UCAR Center for Science Education! Think BIG science demos!

Tuesday, July 21st @ 5:15pm @ Wilkinson Library patio AND Wednesday, July 22nd @ 10:15am @ Ridgway Hartwell Park.

Fun and free for the whole family!

Looking for a cool way to spend a hot summer day? ☀️

Escape the heat and explore the NSF NCAR & UCAR Mesa Lab! Join one of our free public noon tours to learn about the building, atmospheric science, and the fascinating research happening at NSF NCAR.

Whether you're visiting Boulder or looking for a local adventure, we'd love to welcome you! Tours are available at 12:00 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Or explore at your own pace any day of the week!

Visitor Center hours:
• Weekdays: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. MT
• Weekends and holidays: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. MT

Learn more and plan your visit: https://scied.ucar.edu/visit/ncar-tours?utm_source=sm