The Kids in the Garden Program (KIG) had a great showing at the 2018 North Carolina Science and Engineering Fair (NCSEF). Seven middle school and high school students in the KIG Program participated in the science fair competition, which featured more than 400 science project during the two-day event ( 23-24 March 2018) at North Carolina State University. A photo gallery from the event can be accessed below.
The KIG middle school project, which took first place and overall winner at the Region IV Science Fair, received an honorable mention at the state science fair. Four people in the KIG Program are fluent in Spanish, and one of the KIG high school projects was interviewed for a article in the newspaper, Hispanics in STEM. Initiatives featured during the fair, demonstrate that the UNCP campus can lead the way in supporting K12 students and teachers in the region.
The Kids in the Garden Program promotes science education and environmental awareness while connecting public school children with nature. During the past year, the KIG students were engaged in research and numerous activities, including a float trip and nature hike, visit to the aquarium at Fort Fisher, tour of the UNC Wilmington Center for Marine Studies, and presentations at multiple science conferences. The KIG Program is funded by a Burroughs-Wellcome grant and is led by UNC Pembroke faculty members, Drs. Rita Hagevik (Biology) and Martin Farley (Geology and Geography). Other UNCP faculty members as well as school teachers and undergraduate students are actively involved in the program.
KIG Program research projects for 2017-2018 are listed below:
*designates a middle or high school student
** designates an undergraduate student
- Farley, M., McCallum, L.J.*, Lewis, H.*, Oxendine, A.*, Campbell, K., Wimert, D. & Hagevik, R. (2018, March). Pollen in honey—key to its origin and project for high school student research. Association of Southeastern Biologists 79th Annual Meeting: Myrtle Beach, SC.
High school students from Robeson County also presented the above research at the Region IV State Science Fair, UNCP, Feb. 2018, (second place) and the NC Science and Engineering Fair in Raleigh NC at NCSU, March 2018.
- Swartz, H.**, Wood, G.**, Dimas, B.*, Cristobal, G.*, Campbell, K.*, Wimert, D. & Hagevik,R. (2018, March). Relationships between European honeybee health and foraging preferences on a university campus. Association of Southeastern Biologists 79th Annual Meeting: Myrtle Beach, SC.
High school students from West Bladen High school also presented the above research at the Region IV State Science Fair, UNCP, Feb. 2018 (first place), the NC Student Academy of Science in Durham, NC and the NC Science and Engineering Fair in Raleigh NC at NCSU, March 2018.
- Pilkay, G., Huesa, A.*, Flakes, S.*, Benson, Y.*, Hagevik, R. & Campbell, K. (2018, March). Attempting to use low cost radar to track honeybees. Association of Southeastern Biologists 79th Annual Meeting: Myrtle Beach, SC.
Middle school students from Scotland County and Bladen County also presented the above research at the Region IV State Science Fair (first place and overall winner), UNCP (February 2018) and the NC Science and Engineering Fair (honorable mention) in Raleigh NC at NCSU, March 2018.
- Campbell, K., Dean, D.*, Elisha Long*, Destiny Robinson*, Wimert, D., & Hagevik, R. (2018, March). Significance of native floral plantings for insect and pollinator biodiversity. Association of Southeastern Biologists 79th Annual Meeting: Myrtle Beach, SC.
Middle school students from Robeson County and Bladen County also presented this research at the Region IV State Science Fair at UNCP, February 2018.