Exploration, Discovery and a Splash of Fun

UVA Wise Governor’s School in STEM-H nears grand finale

The two-week Governor's School in STEM-H program at UVA Wise, sponsored by the Virginia Department of Education and UVA Wise, is nearing its conclusion for rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors who excel in the sciences.

During the first week, students engaged in hands-on learning at the Oxbow Center’s Clinch River Ecological Education Center (CREEC) in St. Paul, Virginia. Activities included testing Clinch River water quality and exploring the Pinnacle Natural Area Preserve, where they studied benthic macroinvertebrates, decomposition, and primary production. They also participated in an Aquatic Ecosystems Workshop led by the Virginia Tech “Salty-C” Research Group.

In their second week, students transitioned to the UVA Wise campus for further academic exploration. They’ve had the opportunity to learn from various UVA Wise professors on topics such as environmental microbiology, physics, spectrophotometry, and ethnobotany. Highlights of the week included a competitive game of fruit fly mutation bingo in Professor Messer’s genetics lab and assisting Professor Wally Smith with salamander research on High Knob in Norton, Virginia.

Teresa Brown, assistant professor of geology at UVA Wise and overseer of the Governor’s School program, commented, “This cohort of students has enthusiastically learned to use various instruments and techniques to measure, monitor, and better understand their environment. We hope that this experience profoundly deepens their appreciation for science-based stewardship of the region’s outstanding biodiversity.”

Before the second week concludes, students will continue to immerse themselves in both rigorous study and enjoyable activities, with planned excursions, refreshing float trips, insightful group presentations, and a celebratory pool party, ensuring a memorable and enriching end to their Governor's School journey.