Thanks to our institutional Affiliates who have renewed their membership for 2019:

KAS Enhanced Affiliates- Faculty, Staff and Students may join KAS at no cost

• Alice Lloyd College
• Bellarmine University
• Berea College
• Brescia University
• Campbellsville University
• Centre College
• Eastern Kentucky University
• Kentucky Community and Technical College System
• Kentucky Science Center
• Kentucky State University
• Lindsey Wilson College
• Midway University
• Morehead State University
• Murray State University
• Northern Kentucky University
• Spalding University
• Thomas More University
• Transylvania University
• University of Kentucky
• University of Louisville
• University of Pikeville
• Western Kentucky University

Regular Affiliates

• Lumins Associates
• Kentucky Wesleyan College
• Wood Hudson Cancer Research Laboratory

Check out KAS'  Science Job Postings
Find a job here or send us your announcement
 

KAS has set up a new listserv so our members can talk to each other, to share science-related news & announcements, offers, requests, questions and answers. We are excited about fostering more conversations within our scientific community!

 Opt In to the listserv:
Log In at the KAS website (https://kyscience.org/)
In the Member Menu, go to Communication / Message Boards
Click to Opt In to the KAS Member Listserv (and choose the Daily Digest option if  you prefer)
To post to the listserv, send a message to kyscience@memberleap.com

If you use Instagram, and you'd like to help KAS manage our Instagram account, get in touch with us. We're looking for someone to post something about once a week and keep in touch with our members. Thanks!
 

Send submissions to news@kyscience.org

The Kentucky Girls STEM Collaborative's STEM Event Guide has a number of summer listings- and the Summer edition will be coming out soon. Check it out at:
http://kgsc.org
 

Monarch Monitoring training in Frankfort
05/03/2019
KY Fish and Wildlife Headquarters in Frankfort
#1 Sportsman's Lane
Frankfort, KY 40601

The Kentucky Geological Survey Annual Seminar
05/17/2019
Don and Cathy Jacobs Science Building on the University of Kentucky campus

“Go Girl! Engineering Sleepover” at UK
05/18/2019

Lexington Youth Science Summit
06/22/2019

Louisville Youth Science Summit
07/09/2019- 07/10/2019

SpaceTrek Science & Engineering camp for girls
07/12/2019- 07/20/2019
Morehead State University

Apollo 11 Party
07/20/2019
Kentucky Science Center
727 W Main St.
Louisville, KY 40202

Apollo 11 Celebration
07/20/2019

Ecological Society of America meeting in Louisville
08/11/2019- 08/16/2019

 

Great big round of applause to our KSU student volunteers and to our judges. We couldn't do it without your help! Thanks to Robert Skolik, Robin Cooper, Frank Ettensohn, Akash George, Rubens Petit-Homme, Leslie North, Ed Wilcox, Ehigbai Oikeh, Charlie Zhang, Doug Chatham, Andy Martin, Lalu Vijayakrishnapillai, Mahavir Singh, Swagata "Ban" Banerjee, Ibukun Amusan, Jennifer Birriel, Chandler Al-Namer, Bala Appakalai, Ignacio Birriel, (and there in spirit: Jyotica Batra and Keely Lowe).

More about the Junior Academy

A few photos from this year's event

Marcia Athey and Botany Funds
The role of mycorrhizal associations in promoting Microstegium vimineum invasion. Kimberly Koenig, University of Louisville.
  Amphibian Developmental Plasticity in Response To Global Climate Change at Geographic Range Margins, Cy Mott, EKU

Engineering Surfaces to Control Wetting Behavior of Ultra-small Droplets,  Srinivasan Rasipuram. University of Louisville
  Bingocize: A Novel Mobile Application to Help Improve Older Adult Health in Underserved Areas, Matthew Shake, WKU
  The Waldron Shale Project: Fossil identification and analysis for K-12 Science Classrooms. Katherine Bulinski, Bellarmine University
 
Neuro-NORSE (Neuroscience Outreach Resources for Secondary Education). Christine Curran, NKU
_______________________________________

Find more information about KAS Research Grants HERE

Berea College is excited to welcome KAS on Nov 1-2 for the 2019 Annual meeting!

Highlights will include:

• Registration, Exhibitors, and Talks in the beautiful new Margaret A Cargill Science building
• Posters & Plenary session in the Alumni Center and Woods-Penn
• Student-organized Friday Night of Science and an over-21 reception at Boone Tavern
• Graduate student reception
• An outing to the forest and guided hikes by the Berea College Forestry Outreach Center
• Accommodations for a more inclusive meeting such as gender neutral restrooms and space for nursing mothers
• Two Science Teacher workshops

Don't miss it! Registration and Abstract Submission will be open in August.

In 2020, KAS is collaborating with the Kentucky Science Teachers Association (KSTA) for a joint meeting at EKU. If you're a member at EKU and you'd like to be involved in advising & planning, please get in touch.
 

The Kentucky Academy of Science is working on drafting a Code of Ethics so that we can uphold a high level of scientific and professional integrity in all of our events and programs. Watch for more about this in coming months!

A representative from The Monarch Joint Venture is coming to KY to host a monarch monitoring workshop on May 3rd. The focus of the day will be training attendees on protocol for the Integrated Monarch Monitoring Program (IMMP). This program is used to monitor monarch populations and habitat as part of a national initiative, but can also be tailored to assess your own pollinator enhancement sites. 
 
Date: May 3, 2019
Time: 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM (or 3:00 PM/optional final session)
Location: KY Fish and Wildlife Headquarters in Frankfort
Cost: Option to choose between full day attendance ($25), or half day attendance ($15) in which you attend the field portion only
Registration: Online at MJV’s website: click here to register. Sign up by May 1st, registration limited to 25
 
See the registration website for further details, please reach out with any questions. For those that cannot attend on this date, feel free to let me know if you would participate in a future workshop.  
 
Find workshop flyers here
Read more about the protocol

 

Find more Science Job listings on KAS' website: CLICK HERE 

Eastern Kentucky University has two vacant positions we are filling that are associated with our Natural Areas.
The College of Education is currently searching for an assistant professor of science education, with a preferred (although not required) focus on environmental education. We hope the successful candidate will work closely with our Division of Natural Areas to assist with and conduct research related to our environmental education programming for K-12 and adults at our three field stations. The position was approved late in the academic year, but it is now posted on the Chronicle of Higher Ed and can be accessed on EKU’s HR site: https://jobs.eku.edu/postings/10156​.  The position closes mid-May.
 
The Division of Natural Areas, the department that manages our three field stations, is searching for an assistant manager at our Lilley Cornett Woods Appalachian Ecological Research Station, which is an old-growth forest with a research and learning center, bunkhouse, and other facilities. This position is not yet posted.  Please contact Melinda Wilder at melinda.wilder@eku.edu, with questions.

Did you know? Kentucky has an online Natural History Survey. Check it out and participate here: https://www.discoverlife.org/kynhs/

Meanwhile, efforts are underway to re-establish the Kentucky Society of Natural History, which recently became inactive. The society began around 1943 and was associated with the University of Louisville. During this time, it had a strong science-driven focus. In 1982, it was no longer associated with UofL, and although the focus was still on the science of natural history, many academic scientists stopped participating.

Members of KAS and the Kentucky Organization of Field Stations (KOFS) hope to re-establish the Society and get university faculty and students more involved. This society includes all of the field sciences of natural history— geography, geology, biology, environmental chemistry, and others. If you would like to nominate yourself for a leadership position before May 15, please click HERE. Please also pass this on to colleagues that you think might be interested.  KAS and KOFS hope for future collaborations and partnerships among the three groups. For more information, please contact Stephen Richter.



 

Check out the latest issue of the Journal of the Kentucky Academy of Science!
Members can log in at our website to find all journals available for free. To search, use the Bio One link on this page:
https://www.kyscience.org/journal_of_the_kentucky_academ.php

The Journal is transitioning to online-only publishing which will result in fast publication for authors. Find submission instructions at the link above.

The American Modeling Teachers Association (AMTA) has over 50 summer workshops planned across the USA.  These 1-3 week workshops are professional development opportunities for Middle School and High School STEM teachers.  Visit https://modelinginstruction.org/professional-development/upcoming-workshops/summer-2019/ for more information by content or by location.  Of special interest to physics and/or astronomy teachers, AMTA is offering an Astronomy Modeling Instruction Workshop on the campus of the University of Louisville.  For more information, please contact Dr. William Thornburgh at 502-438-8099 or amtaexec@modelinginstruction.org.
 

Louisville is hosting The Ecological Society of America (ESA) annual meeting from August 11-16 at the Kentucky International Convention Center (https://esa.org/louisville/). This gathering of over 3000 ecologists from around the country will involve research talks, poster sessions, career workshops, field trips, and plenty of opportunities to network.  Abstracts for late-breaking posters can be submitted through May 2, and Early Bird registration is open through June 27.  Students can volunteer to assist for 14 hours during the meeting and get their entire registration reimbursed.  See their website for more information:
https://esa.org/louisville/service-opportunities/student-volunteers/
 

The Kentucky Science Center needs your expertise! The Lexington (Saturday June 22) and Louisville (Tuesday July 9 and Wednesday July 10) Youth Science Summits need presenters.
 
In Lexington 6/22 (at Lexmark Inc.) for a predominately Middle School audience:

STEM Demonstrations / Lab Experiences & Tours / Presentations– Do you have an upbeat and lively hands-on experiment demonstrating an aspect of STEM? We can’t wait to have you here to show off your enthusiasm for your line of work! We are looking for interactive programs or engaging presentations that last 30, 60, or 90 minutes.

Reverse Science Fair- This is an opportunity for rapid-fire STEM interactions. Instead of a traditional fair where youth stand by poster boards for judging by adults, this event features a variety of adult-led displays and interactives for the participants to explore at their own pace. Trade show or conference displays are ideal, and the best stations also include small, easily-repeatable tabletop science activities and free swag.

Techpreneur Coaches & Judges- This track is specifically for High School students to explore the science of business solutions. The full-day experience challenges high schoolers to solve a real-world problem, prepare a business plan, and present a pitch to potential investors in the style of “Shark Tank.”


In Louisville 7/9 and 7/10 (Headquartered at Genscape, with lab sessions throughout the community) for a mostly High School audience w/ Governor’s Scholars Program:

STEM Demonstrations / Lab Experiences & Tours / Presentations– Do you have an upbeat and lively hands-on experiment demonstrating an aspect of STEM? We can’t wait to have you here to show off your enthusiasm for your line of work! We are looking for interactive programs or engaging presentations that last 30, 60, or 90 minutes. Our Summits typically draw an accelerated audience, so don’t hold back on content!
We will come to you! Each track of students will have access to a bus for lab presenters to share content at their own facilities! Showcase cutting-edge technologies and research in the comfort of your own space…and encourage your colleagues to join in. 

Speed Mentoring- Each high school-aged Summit participant will have the opportunity to engage in hour long blocks of time for speed mentoring. Groups of 4-5 teens will be at a table with a professional (that’s you!) to simply chat about higher education, career paths, STEM advice, etc.  Every few minutes, a timer will sound and all participants will rotate to another table. This allows short but diverse interactions and an opportunity to gather many perspectives and possible contacts for follow-up conversations. This option is ideal if you can only volunteer for a couple of hours or if you do not have prepared content to present.
 
Interested? Please don’t hesitate to contact:
 
Andrew Spence
Manager of Public Programs and Events
Kentucky Science Center, 727 West Main Street
Louisville, KY 40202
Direct: 502.560.7129
andrew.spence@louisvilleky.gov
 

Save the Date! Plan to spend the day at the Kentucky Science Center on Saturday July 20 to Commemorate Apollo 11!

Join us for:

• A full day of hands-on demos and Moon & Space Science activities
•  An evening screening of Capricorn 1
• A panel discussion afterward with KAS scientists about the theory that NASA faked the moon landing, and other anti-science conspiracy theories

If you'd like to volunteer to help out with programming that day, get in touch.

The Kentucky Science Center is located at 727 W Main St, Louisville.

Read Reviews here for two new books from the UK Press:

Wildflowers and Ferns of Red River Gorge and the Greater Red River Basin
Dan Dourson and Judy Dourson

Wild Yet Tasty
A Guide to Edible Plants of Eastern Kentucky
Dan Dourson and Judy Dourson

 

The KY Girls STEM Collaborative is seeking STEM Role Models to lead hands-on workshops for girls and boys ages 5-12,  and for mentoring sessions to engage middle school girls, at a community summer camp in downtown Lexington. We are looking for individuals and organizations to provide content and encouragement to the campers with an one-time workshop or over the course of multiple visits. Serving primarily African American K-8 students who attend the Lexington Traditional Magnet School, this summer camp supplements summer education with STEAM activities with particular focus on engineering, forensic science, mathematics, and agriculture. If you are interested in learning more about volunteering with the camp contact KGSC programs manager Rosemary Fama
 

RFP: Request for Topic Presenters
The Cumberland Watershed Climate and Biodiversity Conference
October 11-12, 2019
Cumberland Falls State Park

This conference is being organized by a coalition including The Kentucky Conservation Committee, Kentucky Heartwood, The Center for Biological Diversity, Dogwood Alliance and the Livelihood Knowledge Exchange Network (LiKEN).
 
Purpose:

• Highlight challenges for the public relating to climate change on species in and along the Upper Cumberland Watershed (Land and waters along the tributaries of the Rockcastle River, Laurel River, Big South Fork, Lake Cumberland).
• Provide new opportunities to exchange knowledge among a broad base of constituents and stakeholders including the public at large.
• Provide opportunities for public engagement in affected communities and encourage community-based solutions.
• Strengthen relationships among stakeholder groups.

We are inviting the following interest groups to present:
Local Government Entities (sustainability, land, conservation, biology)
Local Community Nonprofits who work in the climate or ecological sector
State-Based Nonprofits with a focus on climate, ecology or conservation
Frontline community groups (stakeholders who live in the region, with particular encouragement for participation from under-represented groups, communities of color, communities represented near and around public lands).
 
Contact: Lane Boldman, director@kyconservation.org, 502-209-9659.


 

In February 2019, some of our undergraduate members visited the Capitol to share their science research with our elected leaders. 
 
Andrea Shiverdecker, Samantha Hamilton, Cora Teets

 
Lawrence Madriaga, Lori Porter
 
Jamison Burchett, Hannah Brewer
 
Gabby Barnes, Parker Kain

Taylor Robinson and Jacob Dobler