Description
This program is hosted on the Virginia Tech, Blacksburg Campus on October 18th and November 4th (10am-3pm) for kids ages 13-16. There is space for 16 kids to participate. Lunch (a sandwich and chips) for each date and a t-shirt will be provided for each child that attends. Hands-on activities will include working with various new technology drones and activities. For this program, 16 students (ages 13-16) will be learning about drones (on October 28th) and about adaptive evolution of species (on November 4th).
Course Schedule
Saturday, Oct 28th and Nov 4th, 2024
10:00am to 3:00pm each day
Fall 2023 Registration Procedure
- Online enrollment begins on Oct. 4, 2023
- 16 students will be accepted into the program
- Registration is on a “first-come, first-served” basis
- Due to costs and space restrictions, only registered students will be allowed to participate in KTU:GS activities. Parents and unregistered students will not be admitted.
Registration Fee
In order to keep up with the costs of providing a quality program, there will be a nonrefundable and nontransferable registration fee of $50.00 per student, payable upon registration. The registration fee must be paid at the time of registration; we now accept debit/credit cards! You have the option to apply for a scholarship at the time you register online. If you have any questions regarding the scholarships, please email Dr. Kristy Collins.
Ways to Register
- To pay with a credit card, add the appropriate section on this page to your cart (4H-KTUGS-01 - KTU:GS). We suggest using the Family/Group checkout feature. Instructions for using the Family/Group checkout feature can be found here. Since there is an age restriction for this program, please be sure you enter each student's date of birth, when requested.
- To apply for a scholarship, add the appropriate section on this page to your cart (4H-KTUGS-01 - KTU:GS Scholarship). You must complete an individual registration/application for each student attending. The registration account should be set up in the student's name, and must include an accurate date of birth. We will follow-up with you via email about your registration once we receive your scholarship application.
For more information, please visit our website at https://fralinlifesci.vt.edu/education-and-outreach/kids-tech-university-graduate-school.html.
Outline
2023 Presenters
October 28, 2023
"Learning to Fly- How You Can Become a Drone Pilot"
A/P Faculty at the Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science, Virginia Tech
Sarah Rhodes leads a wide array of research and educational activities as manager of the Virginia Tech Drone Park. Ms. Rhodes has a B.S. in Conservation Biology from George Mason University, and a Master’s of Natural Resources from Virginia Tech. Prior to coming to Virginia Tech, she worked for the Smithsonian Institution conducting research on novel means of ecological monitoring, which led her to begin her work with drones. Over four years of managing the Drone Park, she has been dedicated to helping students and the community access the tools and information needed to further their education in autonomous systems.
As drone technology advances, it is quickly becoming more prevalent in everyday life. Drones are delivering packages, collecting news footage, surveying construction sites, and introducing people to the world of aviation in ways that weren’t possible a few years ago. So, what does it take to become a drone pilot? We’ll talk to a panel of experts working on the leading edge of drone technology to find out how they started working with drones and where they think drones are headed. You’ll also have the opportunity to ask these experts your own questions, and fly a drone hands-on at the VT Drone Park!
November 4, 2023
"Evolution in everyday life"
Dr. Jeremy Draghi is a biologist studying evolution using computers, microbes, and math. He has a Ph.D. from Yale University and held research and teaching positions at University of Pennsylvania, University of British Columbia, and the City University of New York before coming to Virginia Tech in 2019.
Evolutionary biology might feel like a remote, dry subject, all about fossils and events in the distant past rather than things in your everyday life. But it turns out that evolution can happen quickly, affecting our lives and giving us chances to witness evolutionary change with our own eyes. We'll chat about this kind of everyday evolution, discuss your questions, and play games that will help you understand how organisms change, and how those changes sometimes lead to new viruses and other threats to our health.
Notes
*A limited number of scholarships are available. You may apply for a scholarship at the time of registration. Please see Ways to Register above. If you have any questions regarding the scholarship, please email Dr. Kristy Collins.
If you are a person with a disability and desire any assistive devices, services or other accommodations to participate in this activity, please contact Kristy Collins at 540-231-1389 during business hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. to discuss accommodations 5 days prior to the event. *TDD number is (800) 828-1120.