Students Get Dirty in the Name of Science

Thanks to a grant to Binghamton Universities Public Archaeology Facility, funding will be given to an afterschool archaeology program for students in the Whitney Point and Windsor school districts.

The grant from the National Science Foundation will award a two year $295,951 dollar grant, through its Advancing Informal STEM Learning Pilot, and Feasibility Program for 150 students in grades 6 to 8.

Laurie Miroff, the Director of the Public Archaeology Facility at B-U said students often start lose interest in Science Technology Engineering and Math concepts in middle school, but Archeology is just so interesting and exciting, it could get children hooked on science for life.

Some of the interesting things students will study include, data on arrowheads, darts and spear points, to create theories about how ancient civilizations lived, and what they used to make tools and prepare food.

The COVID-19 pandemic will put the program in a holding pattern, organizers will be planning meetings with school administrators to discuss to situation, and decide when the program might move forward. The original start date for the program was this winter, but it may be several months before the  program can actually begin.