{"id":24314,"date":"2022-08-09T15:41:29","date_gmt":"2022-08-09T19:41:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/news\/?p=24314"},"modified":"2022-08-23T14:16:47","modified_gmt":"2022-08-23T18:16:47","slug":"marshall-faculty-alumni-play-key-roles-in-the-2022-national-youth-science-camp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/news\/2022\/08\/marshall-faculty-alumni-play-key-roles-in-the-2022-national-youth-science-camp\/","title":{"rendered":"Faculty, alumni play key roles in the 2022 National Youth Science Camp"},"content":{"rendered":"
On Wednesday, July 20, the National Youth Science Camp (NYSCamp) said goodbye to 120 delegates from over 40 states and 12 Western Hemisphere nations. Since its inception in 1963 as part of West Virginia\u2019s Centennial, the NYSCamp has honored over 6,200 students, giving them the opportunity to participate in a rigorous STEM enrichment program. Operated by the National Youth Science Foundation, its mission is to inspire lifelong engagement and ethical leadership in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics through its proven educational model for mentoring, challenging, and motivating students.<\/p>\n

This was the third virtual camp directed by Dr. Brian Kinghorn, an associate professor of curriculum, instruction and foundations at Marshall University. Building on previous virtual experiences, this year included the most interactive STEM education programming in the NYSCamp\u2019s 59-year history, comprising 320 interactive sessions from 95 presenters. It included 15 keynote lectures, four panel discussions, two concerts, and virtual tours of the National Gallery of Art and the Green Bank National Radio Astronomy Observatory.\u00a0Presenters represented prestigious institutions such as the White House, NASA, AAAS, the NIH, YouTube, Harvard Medical School and many universities across the nation.<\/p>\n

In addition, seven Marshall University faculty and two Yeager Scholars alumni were among the world-class presenters at camp. Of the 15 keynote lectures, two were presented by Marshall faculty. On July 14, Dr. Suzanne Strait, a professor of biological sciences at Marshall and associate director in the Division of Science and Research at the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, taught the delegates about the history, anatomy and diversity of gonads. Then, on July 18, Sydnee McElroy, M.D., a 2005 Yeager alum and assistant professor and family physician at Marshall Health, spoke about her experiences dispelling misinformation as a podcast co-host of Sawbones: A Marital Tour of Misguided Medicine<\/em>.<\/p>\n

When asked about the importance of her topic for NYSCamp delegates, Strait said, \u201cWe\u2019re not comfortable enough talking about reproductive anatomy [which] makes a big impact in peoples\u2019 lives, policies, politics\u2026 sexuality, etc. It would be a much healthier society if people knew a bit more about their bodies\u201d Speaking of scientific literacy in general, she added, \u201cthere are so many levels where science interfaces with culture, society, and politics, and most people are not comfortable talking about it.\u00a0In order to make people more science-friendly, it\u2019s nice to introduce these topics in a more fun, easy setting.\u201d<\/p>\n

Similarly, McElroy explained that \u201cit behooves us to become savvy communicators with every format at our disposal\u2026 because we are living in a time of HIGH availability of misinformation [where] people [spreading] scientific misinformation are winning the battle because they don\u2019t have to bother with the truth.\u201d She continued, \u201cwe have to be as skilled in these areas [of communication] as those spreading misinformation.\u201d<\/p>\n

Both lecturers were impressed with the opportunities the NYSCamp gave delegates to create a community together and look beyond their own spheres of influence. As McElroy put it, \u201cAs somebody who always loved science, feeling alone as a \u2018nerdy\u2019 kid who stuck to myself, to see the NYSCamp bring people together to nurture and celebrate their love of science is inspiring. It creates the kind of environment and atmosphere for these young peoples\u2019 passions to be nurtured and grown in the best ways.\u201d<\/p>\n

Similarly, Strait said, \u201cNYSCamp is a wonderful venue for young people; I am a huge proponent for informal education for young people in the sciences. The more interaction people have with others across the country and world, the better we will be. It\u2019s never too early to network outside our own spheres!\u201d<\/p>\n

Seminars and directed studies by Marshall faculty and alumni included:<\/p>\n