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UCAR Center for Science Education

@ucarscied.bsky.social

1.8K followers 41 following 110 posts

Connecting educators, students, and the public to Earth science research conducted at NSF NCAR and UCAR. #NSFfunded scied.ucar.edu

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UCAR Center for Science Education @ucarscied.bsky.social · Mar 10

Hi we are UCAR SciEd!👋 We serve the geoscience community by amplifying and complementing the work of @ncar-ucar.bsky.social and member universities by reaching K-12 educators, university faculty, students, and the public through excellent educational programs & experiences. #NewHere #FirstPost (1/4)

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UCAR Center for Science Education @ucarscied.bsky.social · 8h

Want to know more about cloud formation and the other types of clouds that can form due to mountains? Visit our Learning Zone!

Clouds Form Due to Mountains | Center for Science EducationClouds Form Due to Mountains | Center for Science Education

When wind blows across a mountain range, air rises, then cools and clouds form.

scied.ucar.edu

UCAR Center for Science Education @ucarscied.bsky.social · 8h

What causes clouds to form? In some cases, mountains are the answer!
When wind blows up over a mountain range, the air rises and cools, and eventually enough moisture will condense out of the air to form a cloud. This results in lenticular clouds (picture 1) and stratus clouds (picture 2)!

Stratus clouds hanging over a lake with trees partially obscured in the background

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UCAR Center for Science Education @ucarscied.bsky.social · 1d

With guided tours and hikes, a classroom design challenge, and self-guided activities for grade levels K-12, learners of all ages were able to understand and connect with the environment in new ways.
We're already planning next year's Homeschool Day, so mark your calendars for Feb 26, 2026!

Homeschool Day | Center for Science EducationHomeschool Day | Center for Science Education

Homeschool families, co-ops, and groups are invited to our first-of-its-kind event! Join us at the NSF NCAR Mesa Lab for a day of activities and fun.

scied.ucar.edu

UCAR Center for Science Education @ucarscied.bsky.social · 1d

What an incredible Homeschool Day!
Last week families visited the NCAR Mesa Lab for a day full of curiosity, creativity, and connection.

A woman in an orange shirt sitting behind a table smiling at an event with a group of students in the background

A teacher pointing at a poster board on a table with 7 children standing around listening

Thirteen people standing in front of a wall that says "watching the weather"

Ten people standing at various tables in a classroom working on a project

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UCAR Center for Science Education @ucarscied.bsky.social · 8d

From making clouds in a jar to safely investigating how cars lose control on ice, these activities are designed to inspire curiosity, build problem-solving skills, and make learning exciting beyond the classroom. Check out our full collection and see what discoveries you can make today!

STEM at Home | Center for Science EducationSTEM at Home | Center for Science Education

Are you looking for fun, informal STEM activities that you can do at home with some simple materials? Explore our resources below to discover how to make an atmosphere lantern, how cars lose control o...

scied.ucar.edu

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UCAR Center for Science Education @ucarscied.bsky.social · 8d

Looking for fun ways to spark discovery and learning at home? 🌟 Our STEM at Home page offers hands-on activities that use everyday items to explore the world around us!

A young girl holding up hand crafted glasses made of popsicle sticks and 3D movie glasses

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UCAR Center for Science Education @ucarscied.bsky.social · 15d

Assemble your team of sidekicks and join the adventure. We are keeping our website up to date, so check it out for more details: scied.ucar.edu/visit/ncar/s...

A group of 4 kids and 3 adults standing at a table inside with a scientist running an activity.

A group of 3 kids and 2 adults standing at a table outside with a scientist showing them an animal pelt.

UCAR Center for Science Education @ucarscied.bsky.social · 15d

🎈 Observe real-time weather balloon data as our scientists launch two into the sky
🦋 Transform into your scientific alter ego with superhero face paint
🦸🏼 Visit an activity table of an NSF NCAR Lab or a UCAR Community Program
🥽 Watch extreme science demos hosted by our Wizards

A scientist and "NCAR Wizard" standing in front of an audience inside holding a rolled sheet of paper.

UCAR Center for Science Education @ucarscied.bsky.social · 15d

Suit up, scientists in training! 🥼 Super Science Saturday is just around the corner on November 1st from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm at the NSF NCAR Mesa Lab in Boulder, CO. Heroes unite to harness the superpowers of science!

A scientist holding a weather balloon outside that a group of kids are reaching out to touch.

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UCAR Center for Science Education @ucarscied.bsky.social · 22d

So, when you see an ozone alert, it's about air quality conditions near the ground where we live and breathe, and not about the protective ozone layer high above us!

A green field overlooking the Flatirons in the background on a sunny day

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UCAR Center for Science Education @ucarscied.bsky.social · 22d

Ground-level ozone is formed by the interaction of sunlight with emissions from cars, smokestacks, and other pollutant sources. This type of ozone can be harmful to humans, animals, plants, and even some materials like rubber, which is why alerts are issued when ozone pollution reaches high levels.

UCAR Center for Science Education @ucarscied.bsky.social · 22d

Stratospheric Ozone - The "good" ozone high up in the atmosphere, about 10 to 30 miles above Earth's surface, that helps shield us from the Sun's harmful radiation.
Ground-Level or Tropospheric Ozone - The "bad" ozone that occurs near the ground where we are.

UCAR Center for Science Education @ucarscied.bsky.social · 22d

If your first thought is about the ozone hole or the stratospheric ozone layer, you aren't alone. However, these alerts are for a different kind of ozone, and International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer is the perfect time to explain the difference!

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UCAR Center for Science Education @ucarscied.bsky.social · 22d

What does it mean when an ozone alert is issued?

UCAR Center for Science Education @ucarscied.bsky.social · 26d

Collaboration is at the core of the National Ozone Garden Network, and we will be showcasing two ozone gardens in Massachusetts and New York in this presentation!

UCAR Center for Science Education @ucarscied.bsky.social · 26d

This year's conference theme is "Together We Thrive: Community & Collaboration," and we will be presenting alongside the Harvard Center for Astrophysics, NCAR, @snugharborccbg.bsky.social , and Framingham State University.

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UCAR Center for Science Education @ucarscied.bsky.social · 26d

Next week members of our team are excited to attend and present at the Smithsonian Affiliations Virtual Conference! Tuesday afternoon we will be giving a presentation on building a network of community-centered ozone bioindicator gardens to help create a healthier future.

A person discussing with another while a few others nearby investigate tall milkweed plants

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UCAR Center for Science Education @ucarscied.bsky.social · 27d

Keep a vigilant eye on our website for updates: scied.ucar.edu/visit/ncar/s...

Super Science Saturday | Center for Science EducationSuper Science Saturday | Center for Science Education

Super Science Saturday is a public science celebration that draws thousands of excited and curious people of all ages to the NSF NCAR Mesa Lab to explore science!

scied.ucar.edu

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UCAR Center for Science Education @ucarscied.bsky.social · 27d

HEROES ASSEMBLE! 🦸

Calling all nerds to attend this year's Super Science Saturday on Saturday, November 1st at the @ncar-ucar.bsky.social Mesa Lab. Become a hero for science and use your knowledge superpowers to explore our natural world at this year's event. No cape required and the event is free.

A digital graphic in a comic book style with the event information. The photo on the graphic shows a group of kids around a scientist who has just released a weather balloon with a radiosonde into the air.

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Reposted by UCAR Center for Science Education

Christine Wiedinmyer @cwiedinm.bsky.social · Sep 3

When you are in Boulder - Come check this out!!
@ncar-ucar.bsky.social @ucarscied.bsky.social

www.dailycamera.com/2025/09/02/n...

Boulder’s NCAR opens redesigned Sun-Earth Connections exhibit

The National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder has reopened its Sun-Earth Connections exhibit after redesigning it for the first time since the exhibit opened in 2010.

www.dailycamera.com

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UCAR Center for Science Education @ucarscied.bsky.social · Sep 5

Reserve one of our FREE interactive programs with a live educator for your K-12 class or a group of students (minimum group size 10). We will drop into your classroom for 30-60 minutes to run cloud experiments, explore weather patterns, or give a 360° tour of the @ncar-ucar.bsky.social Mesa Lab!

Virtual Field Trips | Center for Science EducationVirtual Field Trips | Center for Science Education

Live, interactive K-12 education programs with our Education Specialists.

scied.ucar.edu

UCAR Center for Science Education @ucarscied.bsky.social · Sep 5

Interested in one of our award-winning field trips but can't come in person?
Good news! We offer virtual options as well, all you need to participate is a computer, webcam, and internet access. We bring the science to you!

Six students and three teachers around a table doing an experiment with empty plastic bottles and buckets of water

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UCAR Center for Science Education @ucarscied.bsky.social · Sep 5

We will drop into your classroom for 30-60 minutes to run cloud experiments, explore weather patterns, or give a 360° virtual tour of the Mesa Lab. We bring the science to you!

UCAR Center for Science Education @ucarscied.bsky.social · Sep 5

Reserve one of our FREE interactive programs with a live educator for your class or a group of students, programs available for any student K-12 (minimum group size 10).

UCAR Center for Science Education @ucarscied.bsky.social · Sep 3

Our Assistant Director, Dr. Julie Malmberg, will be presenting about how we can learn more about ground-level ozone from both the National Ozone Garden Network and the NASA TEMPO satellite.

If you're attending, come see us at 2009 Moscone at 4pm!
#ASTC2025