Science Alliance: High School Program
Part of Teens
Winter 2024
Class:
Koobi Fora: 5 Million years of Human Evolution (9th/10th)
The Koobi Fora region of Northern Kenya is a source of unparalleled geological, fossil, and archaeological evidence. Much of what we have learned about the evolution of our own species is a result of the ongoing paleontological research occurring here. In “Koobi Fora, “ you will discover what it is like to do fieldwork in one of the most remote places in the world and learn how scientists identify human fossils, reconstruct prehistoric environments, interpret the behavior of extinct early human species, and determine the age of the fossils. Like a paleoanthropologist, you will conduct elevation mapping, simulate digs, model radioisotopic dating, and reconstruct paleoenvironmental conditions using found animal remains.
Tuesdays & Thursdays: 1/11, 1/16, 1/18, 1/23, 1/25, 1/30, 2/1, 2/6, 2/8, 2/13, 2/15, 2/29, 3/7
Click here to purchase
Cost: $1,000
Registration Open
Age Group:
Grade 9, Grade 10
Dates & Times:
Tuesdays & Thursdays, 4:30–6:30 pm.
Grade 9, Grade 10
Tuesdays & Thursdays, 4:30–6:30 pm
Class:
Dragonflies: Using Machine Learning to Model a Climate Canary (9th/10th)
We are in the midst of dramatic climate change. How can we use computer modeling and insects to understand the future impact of climate shifts?In this course, students will learn about ecological niches, machine learning (ML)-powered species distribution models, and how these concepts and tools can be applied to conservation science, with a focus on dragonflies. Dragonflies, sometimes referred to as “climate canaries” because of their sensitivity to environmental factors, can provide valuable insight into the effects of climate change on insects and other wildlife. Students will gain hands-on experience with museum specimens, rear dragonflies from babies (aka, aquatic larvae), collaborate with AMNH scientists studying dragonflies, and use Wallace, an R-based platform for modeling species niches and distributions (no coding experience or coding required!) For their final project, students will map the potential ranges of specific species in the present and future (accounting for a changing climate), and use their models to inform original conservation solutions.
Tuesdays & Thursdays: 1/11, 1/16, 1/18, 1/23, 1/25, 1/30, 2/1, 2/6, 2/8, 2/13, 2/15, 2/29, 3/7
Click here to purchase
Cost: $1000
Registration Open
Age Group:
Grade 9, Grade 10
Dates & Times:
Tuesdays & Thursdays, 4:30–6:30 pm.
Grade 9, Grade 10
Tuesdays & Thursdays, 4:30–6:30 pm
Support for the Museum’s education and evaluation programs is generously provided by a grant from the Bezos Family Foundation.
The Museum’s Education Collection is generously supported by the Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Foundation and Elysabeth Kleinhans.