Science comes to life at Pittsburgh’s Citizen Science Lab
A front row seat to watch protozoa devour bacteria. Making your own candy to see crystallization happen right in front of your eyes. Cloning DNA with your own two hands. When kids learn science by doing science, they can’t get enough.
As the first and only hands-on community life sciences lab in Pittsburgh, The Citizen Science Lab brings STEM education to life. The lab is open to the public, providing a place for all people in Pittsburgh—including middle-and high school-aged children–to spark an interest in the life sciences.
During its summer camps, after-school programs and weekend workshops, The Citizen Science Lab gives kids the opportunity to learn in a real lab setting. It’s all about showing young people the fun side of science.
“We are focused solely on learning through experimentation,” says Dr. Andre Samuel, director of The Citizen Science Lab. “Many students come in unsure of what they are about to do and unsure if they even want to be there. But by the time they leave, they are always excited and ready to come back and do more.”
All of this is in an effort to ensure kids get interested—and stay interested—in science. “We often lose future scientists to other fields due to a lack of exposure and hands-on experience,” says Samuel. And even though kids are getting exposed to science in their school curricula, The Citizen Science Labs builds a culture of fun and excitement that stands out from the everyday classroom or lecture experience.
In the lab, kids learn how to extract DNA, grow genetically modified microorganisms, explore protein biochemistry and much more. They also learn the basics of working with lab equipment, processes and techniques. And because the lab is fully equipped, kids don’t need to bring anything but their own curiosity.
The complete listing of The Citizen Science Lab’s activities and day camps for the month of June can be found online. For more information, to sign up for classes or to get details about scholarships, parents can email thecitizensciencelab@gmail.com.
Featured photo: Young scientists at Citizen Science Lab, Photo courtesy of Citizen Science Lab
