Tuesday, July 6, 2010

The World Food Prize

Join other student leaders from across the state to take part in the 2nd annual New York Youth Institute at Cornell University on September 25, 2010. For more information, visit their website.

At this exciting day-long event, participating high school students have the opportunity to…
  • Present their findings in a short speech and small group discussions with international experts and other students from across the state
  • Share their ideas and interact with global leaders in science, industry and policy
  • Tour Cornell University and meet innovative researchers, professors and college students in New York working to end hunger and poverty and improve food security around the world.
  • Interact with global leaders and other students from around the world
How it works
The students research and write a short essay under the supervision of a teacher mentor. Essays must be received by the state coordinator by September 20, 2010.The 2010 essay topic is Solutions for the World's Smallholders.

Four exceptional students at the New York Youth Institute will be selected to represent the state of New York at the three-day Global Youth Institute hosted by The World Food Prize Foundation.

The selected students and their teacher mentors will travel to Des Moines, Iowa, October 14-16, to participate in the Global Youth Institute (transportation, accommodation and meal expenses provided by The World Food Prize Foundation and Cornell University).

There, they will join over 200 other outstanding high school students and teachers from across the United States and other countries to interact with Nobel and World Food Prize Laureates and the more than 600 global leaders from 65 countries attending the World Food Prize's annual international symposium.

Travel abroad and start making a difference
By participating in the Global Youth Institute held in Iowa, students are eligible to apply for a prestigious Borlaug-Ruan International Internship, an all-expenses-paid, eight-week hands-on experience, working with world-renowned scientists and policymakers at leading research centers in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. Students must be a high school junior or senior when applying for a potential internship placement.

Since 1998, over 140 Borlaug-Ruan Interns have traveled to Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Kenya, Peru, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, Trinidad and Turkey to get a firsthand view of pressing food security and nutritional problems in poverty-stricken areas and take part in ground-breaking research.

For more information on the essay and how to participate in the Youth Institute, contact the State Coordinator Francine Jasper at fj10@cornell.edu or at (607) 255-1907.

Monday, July 5, 2010

Rutgers Equine Science Center’s Equine Science 4 Kids!

A note from Karyn Malinowski, Ph.D., Director, Equine Science Center at Rutgers

One of the recent results of our efforts is the launch of the Rutgers Equine Science Center’s Equine Science 4 Kids!, a redesigned, interactive youth component now available on the center’s website, esc.rutgers.edu. The component features Lord Nelson, a 37-year old American Quarter horse, who served for 22 years on the campus mounted patrol, as the figurehead guiding youth through the revamped educational component.

The goal was to create an online classroom with Lord Nelson as the lead educator. Although the updated component features interactive elements and will include games, the primary focus is equine science specifically developed for youth ages 10-14 years. The youth component focuses on three modules: Healthcare and Nutrition, Exercise Physiology, and Horses & the Environment.

Visitors to Equine Science 4 Kids! have the opportunity to email their horse-related questions directly to “Lord Nelson”. All questions are answered in a timely manner. If Lord Nelson receives the same question repeatedly, the question will be added to the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) feature that is available in each of the three modules.

Keeping current with technology, Lord Nelson also has a blog, “Holy Hoofprints!,” to share his thoughts and perspective with Equine Science 4 Kids visitors. His blog consists of “a day in the life of a horse” as it relates to science content. Visitors may also join Lord Nelson’s Fan Club to receive email notification of new content, blog entries, and interactive games as they are added to the youth component.

2010 North Country District Public Presentations Results

28 4-Hers presented at the first annual North Country District Public Presentation event. Both Junior and Senior age presenters were invited to this contest. Everyone did a great job! Below are the results. Special congratulations to Harrison, who was chosen to represent our district at the NY State competition (only seniors can be invited to the state level, though we had plenty of juniors that could do well there!).

Seniors
Blue
Josiah & Adam (St Lawrence), Dramatic Interpretation
Danni-Ann (Franklin), Demonstration
Harrison (Clinton), Illustrated Talk
Emily (St Lawrence), Illustrated Talk
Connor (St Lawrence), Illustrated Talk
Keira (Franklin), Illustrated Talk
Caleb (Essex), Illustrated Talk
Lindsey (St Lawrence), Illustrated Talk
Samantha (Franklin), Demonstration
Stephanie (Essex), Speech

Red
Mikayla (Franklin), Illustrated Talk
Sarah (Lewis), Illustrated Talk

Juniors
Blue
Riley (St Lawrence), Demonstration
Carter (St Lawrence), Demonstration
Matthew (Clinton), Illustrated Talk
Liam (Clinton), Illustrated Talk
Joanne (Jefferson), Illustrated Talk
Marshall (Essex), Illustrated Talk

Red
Hannah (St Lawrence), Demonstration
Stella (Clinton), Illustrated Talk
Anna (Jefferson), Illustrated Talk
Olivia (Jefferson), Illustrated Talk
Allyssa (Franklin), Demonstration
Jake (Lewis), Speech
Will (Franklin), Illustrated Talk
Kelsey (Franklin), Illustrated Talk
Makayla (Lewis), Demonstration
Erika (Jefferson), Illustrated Talk