One-hour presentation featuring chemistry demonstrations that illustrate fundamental physical and chemical principles.

Presentation to grade school classes

These chemistry workshops and teaching chemistry to Hmong students involve teaching hands-on chemistry workshops and chemistry concepts to middle and high school Hmong students. The teaching and workshops run for two weeks, two hours per day. The chemistry activities include hands-on experiments in chemistry and lectures. Students come to UW-Eau Claire during the summer for two weeks as part of the university's Hmong Youth Leadership program. This program is coordinated by Charles Vue of the Office of Multicultural Affairs.

Half-hour tour of three rooftop greenhouses including discussions of ecosystem adaptation, plant propagation and plant/insect interactions.

We bring in live speakers to give presentations on interesting biology topics. Students and faculty/staff from a wide array of departments and also community members enjoy listening to and discussing the presentations.

The bird museum is open for self-guided tours. Guided tours are available. Contact for more information.

One-hour presentation featuring live insects, insect displays and pictures. Students are taught the basics of being a bug and why insects are so successful.

A mobile teaching activity for learning about aquatic invertebrates and their ecology.

Introduce students to careers in marine biology and major topics in the conservation and exploitation of marine fishes.

Introduce students to the extraordinary diversity and behavior of fishes in Wisconsin lakes and streams.

Current constellations and planet locations; sky motions; astronomy concepts; opportunity to ask astronomy questions. One-hour programs.

Ages 6 and older.  Programs presented at the appropriate level for the group (kindergarten through adult).  Free parking available.

We have three instruments that provide safe images of the sun: a solar projection telescope, a pair of filtered white light solar binoculars and a filtered telescope. We precede the viewing of the sun with a brief slide show or PowerPoint presentation to give the students an idea of what they will be seeing.

The most difficult aspect of scheduling these programs is the need for clear skies to show the sun. Alternate dates should be worked out in advance, along with an alternate lesson plan. Students should be mature enough to understand that viewing the sun without proper filtering can be extremely dangerous.

A variety of fun science demonstrations for students of all ages. Topics include pressure (bed of nails, vacuum chamber, shop vac), extreme temperatures (dunking items in liquid nitrogen and playing with dry ice), electricity/magnetism, etc.

People call our department for information on strange things they saw in the sky or wondering if a strange rock they found in their field/yard is a meteorite.

The most difficult aspect of scheduling these programs is the need for clear skies to show the Sun. Alternate dates should be worked out in advance, along with an alternate lesson plan. Students should be mature enough to understand that viewing the sun without proper filtering can be extremely dangerous.

Write a monthly article for the local newspaper regarding astronomy events that the public may be interested in learning about.

Contact us to schedule an appointment.

TV stations, newspapers, radio stations and local meteorologists all contact us regarding interesting astronomy questions. Mostly they are always just looking for a quote or a face for their audience, making the event more interesting and connected to a local expert.

Contact us to schedule an appointment.

Take science demos out to classes at local schools.  Usually these classes are associated with their children, but the entire class gets a wonderful experience.

Contact us to schedule an appointment.

Run classes for Continuing Education’s Summer Science Institute.

Contact us for scheduling an appointment

Local K-12 students can submit interesting samples that they would like to see Scanning Electron Microscope images of.  Things like a bug’s eye or a strand of hair or a computer chip from a broken electronic device or whatever the kids dream up.

Contact for scheduling an appointment

Many people are interested in astronomy.  A useful device for actually getting involved in this interest is a telescope.  The problem is, there are lots of different types of telescopes, lots of different accessories, and a wide range of prices.  How would a novice know what to buy?  We offer assistance in this area.

Contact for scheduling an appointment

Instructors for NYSP and Reach For the Stars and Math/Science Summer Program

Assist the Multicultural Affairs Office with their pre-college programs

We find these programs a wonderful place to begin the recruitment process

Physics Thursday Seminars

We bring in live and recorded speakers to give presentations on interesting physics topics.  Students and faculty/staff from a wide array of departments and also community members enjoy listening to and discussing the presentations.

We find these programs a wonderful place to bring science discussions to the public

Cub Scout and Boy Scout Merit Badges in Science & Astronomy

We assist Cub/Boy Scouts in attaining their science and/or astronomy badges.

Contact for scheduling an appointment

Brownie and Girl Scout Merit Badges in Science & Astronomy, including Choices & Challenges

We assist Brownies/Girl Scouts in attaining their science and/or astronomy badges.

Contact for scheduling an appointment

Science Fair Judges

We assist local schools with their science fairs by providing judges and science demo displays.

Contact for scheduling an appointment

Mission Eau Claire, Gifted & Talented UWEC Astronomy Adventure

We assist groups of students with their interest in astronomy.  The Mission Eau Claire “graduates” from local middle schools attend a planetarium show and work in a computer lab and look through solar telescopes.

Contact for scheduling an appointment

Hobbs Observatory - Liaison

George Stecher, Lauren Likkel, Nathan Miller, Paul Thomas, assorted students

We maintain the large telescopes, train members of the public to use the telescopes, provide public viewing events, give public lectures, organize and run StarFest, etc.

No, the telescopes are located out on the Beaver Creek Reserve, north of Fall Creek

Please call to set up an appointment. 
Observatory Website

History & Philosophy of Science Discussion Group

George Stecher, several Math Dept professors and a variety of students

We hold interesting discussions on the history and philosophy of science and its implications.  Community members also participate.

No

Please join us!

Chippewa Valley Astronomical Society

George Stecher, Lauren Likkel

We participate in this community-based organization.  There are many, many active members besides the UWEC faculty.  We help organize Astronomy Day, public library displays, eclipse-watching and meteor-watching parties, host events for Venus transit, Hale-Bopp and Mars events.

Yes

Please join us!
Website

This program provides activities that enhance participant understanding of, and appreciation for the physical environment and how earth scientists work.  It is an informal program responding to demand of teachers and other community members and subject to availability of program providers.  In good weather and with smaller groups, field-based activities are possible, in fact desirable.  Otherwise, in-class activities can be substituted.

Academic Year, Summer/Wintrim(Limited)
Advanced Notice Necessary

Smaller groups preferred
Advanced Notice Necessary

College student Chaperones and camp counselors provided for overnight camping trips to Beaver Creek Reserve and/or Camp Manitou