CONTACT: Dr. Nick Flynn, 806-651-2542, nflynn@wtamu.edu
CANYON, Texas—West Texas A&M University faculty members Dr. Nick Flynn and Dr. Naruki Hiranuma provided hands-on activities and demonstrations to area elementary students at the Discovery Center on April 20th to celebrate Earth Day. The theme for this year’s annual event was Marine Chemistry and was selected by the American Chemical Society.
Flynn, Ross W. Wilson Chair in Chemistry and professor of biochemistry, provided demonstrations centered on environmental effects on the ocean. Hiranuma, assistant professor of environmental science, collaborated with Dr. Richard Kazmaier, associate professor of biology, to provide students with hands-on activities that included maritime skeletal specimens, jellyfish surrogate and liquid density experiments.
A total of 455 students participated in this event and came from area Panhandle schools that included Dumas, Friona, Hereford and Pampa.
“Thanks to WT for our partnership in helping students of the Panhandle understand the importance of Earth,” Kyle Hadley of the Discovery Center, said. “Over the last several years, our events continue to grow and be an instrumental teaching tool for local teachers. Earth Day is just one of many events that our local teachers and students look forward to on an annual basis.”
This Earth Day event is one of seven that the DHDC School Services department will conduct this school year.
Individuals interested in joining the local section of the American Chemical Society can contact Flynn at 651-2542 or nflynn@wtamu.edu.
—WTAMU—