News & Events Press Releases 2009-09-18
Press ReleaseFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
State’s 4-H Youth Learn and Lead on Alternative Energy
Beginning this weekend, and continuing throughout October, young people in Massachusetts will join hundreds of thousands of their peers around the nation to simultaneously create biofuel. As part of 4-H National Youth Science Day, youth will participate in Biofuel Blast, the 2009 National Science Experiment. This year’s experiment will teach youth how cellulose and sugars in plants – such as corn, switchgrass, sorghum and algae – can be converted into fuel and how alternative energies can be used in their own communities. The first demonstration in the series takes place Sunday at 2 p.m. in the 4-H Tent at the Cracker Barrel Fair in Wrentham. A full schedule is below. To combat a national shortage of young people pursuing college majors and careers in science, 4-H National Youth Science Day will spark an early youth interest in science and science education. Currently, more than five million youth across the nation take part in 4-H science, engineering and technology year-long programming. Through the One Million New Scientists, One Million New Ideas campaign, 4-H has undertaken a bold goal to engage one million new young people in science, engineering and technology programs by the year 2013. In fact, according to a longitudinal study by Tufts University, youth who participate in 4-H are more likely to get better grades in school, to seek out science classes, to see themselves going to college, and to contribute positively in their communities. In addition, 4-H youth have been shown to better resist peer pressure and are less likely to engage in risky behaviors. “Engaging youth early in scientific exploration has been shown to spark a lasting interest in the sciences,” said UMass Extension 4-H educator Karen Barshefsky. “Science can often seem intimidating to young people, but 4-H National Youth Science Day makes science fun, real, and accessible. Kids will learn about cutting edge technologies and then take the next step to lead by applying what they’ve learned in their very own community.” Six million 4-H youth and 514,000 volunteers nationwide will lead parents, teachers, students, and other youth organizations in 4-H National Youth Science Day. Such initiatives are critical to the future of 4-H and its members, says Massachusetts 4-H director Sherrie Guyott. “It has never been more important for young people to be prepared to meet the science and technology challenges of the future. To ensure global competitiveness, we must act now to prepare the next generation of science, engineering, and technology leaders,” said Guyott. As part of the Cooperative Extension System of the United States Department of Agriculture implemented by the nation’s 106 land-grant colleges and universities, 4-H has been educating youth in the sciences for over 100 years. In fact, the land-grant colleges and universities have been deeply involved in biofuel research for some time and will showcase their work to inspire youth on 4-H National Youth Science Day. 4-H’s robust and university research-based science curriculum, combined with new initiatives like 4-H National Youth Science Day, will arm youth with the necessary technical skills to help America maintain its competitive edge in the global marketplace. About 4-H National Youth Science Day This year’s national science experiment – Biofuel Blast – was developed in conjunction with the University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension and Wisconsin 4-H with generous sponsor support provided by John Deere and DuPont. For more information on 4-H National Youth Science Day, please visit www.4-H.org/NYSD.
About 4-H National 4-H Youth Science Day Schedule 2009
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