Middle School Students Experiment with Remote Sensing on Science in Action Day
Asheville area scientists recently joined Owen Middle School in celebrating its second annual Science in Action Day. Eastern Threat Center ecologist and ORISE fellow Bjorn Brooks was among the scientists who guided students through sets of science activities reflecting their area of expertise and day-to-day work. Brooks introduced two classes to his work--remote sensing of the environment--and demonstrated how sensors can be used to gather data from leaves and indicate tree health. “It’s amazing how much kids relish technology, and these students jumped at the chance to manipulate my DIY light sensor. All we have to do is show them how just about anything can be accurately measured and identified using homemade computer scraps, and they'll do the rest,” says Brooks. About 35 scientists and 600 students participated in the event, which was part of the North Carolina Science Festival.
