4-H National Youth Science Day to Focus on Wind Energy Technology

CHEVY CHASE, Md., April 13, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- 4-H National Headquarters and National 4-H Council are pleased to announce the 2011 National Science Experiment, Wired for Wind, which will introduce young people to the possibilities of using wind as a clean, widely available, and low-cost source of renewable energy. This exciting annual youth science event brings together youth from all around the nation to complete a single, innovative experiment on 4-H National Youth Science Day, which will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2011.

Designed by the University of Nebraska – Lincoln Extension and working in partnership with KidWind, the 2011 National Science Experiment will demonstrate how implementing alternatives to traditional energy production can have a positive impact on communities and ecosystems. 4-H youth will enhance their engineering skills by designing, building and testing two different wind turbine models. Wired for Wind will also help youth relate their scientific experiences back to their own lives as they determine the best location for a wind farm in their state or local area by calculating wind power and studying wind data and maps.

"We created this year's experiment to help young people understand the important link between energy, the environment and their community," said F. John Hay, Associate Extension Educator in Biological Systems Engineering at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln Extension, who developed the National Science Experiment. "Ultimately, we hope that this experiment will inspire young people to continue their interest in science and engineering throughout their secondary education, into college and on into career opportunities."

"Now entering its fourth year, 4-H National Youth Science Day will again bring young people face-to-face with the challenges of today's global economy," said Donald T. Floyd, Jr., National 4-H Council president and CEO. "Involving youth early in fun and exciting scientific exploration is paramount to encouraging their future interest in science and engineering careers. As the nation's next generation of leaders, it is crucial that we encourage the six million young people in 4-H to think about global issues now, in order to engage them in developing the solutions of tomorrow."

"4-H National Youth Science Day is a great opportunity for young people across the country to have a hands-on experience about a current science topic. Introducing science and technology innovation to youth is why 4-H started more than 100 years ago," said Lisa Lauxman, director of 4-H National Headquarters. "In the Wired for Wind experiment, youth will explore the science and engineering of wind energy technology, which may be the spark that encourages them to learn more about wind and other alternative energy sources and discuss the implications for the communities where they live."

Every year, 4-H National Headquarters and National 4-H Council invite Cooperative Extension System faculty and staff from the nation's 109 land-grant colleges and universities to submit proposals outlining and detailing an innovative experiment for youth to conduct during 4-H National Youth Science Day. Once received, a committee made up of staff from 4-H National Headquarters and National 4-H Council along with a cohort of experts in the field of education, energy and science, review all of the proposals and select that year's National Science Experiment.

About NYSD:

For more than 100 years, 4-H has been at the forefront of teaching youth about science, engineering and technology. Created to combat a shortage of American young people pursuing science college majors and careers, 4-H National Youth Science Day seeks to spark an early youth interest and leadership in science.

Currently, more than five million young people across the nation participate in 4H science, engineering and technology programming in topics as varied as robotics, rocketry, wind power, GPS mapping, agricultural science, film making, water quality and biofuels. And, through the One Million New Scientists, One Million New Ideas campaign, 4H has undertaken a bold goal of engaging one million additional young people in science, engineering and technology programming by 2013. For more information on 4-H National Youth Science Day, visit www.4-H.org/NYSD.

This year's 4-H National Youth Science Day has been jointly sponsored by Toyota, BAE and KidWind.

About University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension:

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension is a Division of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The goal of University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension is to help individuals transform knowledge into "know how" — having confidence, skill and understanding to make better decisions about their businesses, communities, and families through research based education.

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL) was chartered in 1869, and has been a member of the Association of American Universities since 1909. UNL is a land-grant university and a member of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities.

About 4-H:

4-H is a community of six million young people across America learning leadership, citizenship, and life skills. National 4-H Council is the private sector, non-profit partner of 4-H National Headquarters located at the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) within USDA. 4-H programs are implemented by the 109 land-grant universities and the Cooperative Extension System through their 3,100 local Extension offices across the country. Learn more about 4-H at www.4-H.org or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/4-H.

SOURCE National 4-H Council