iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

UCAR Center for Science Education @ucarscied.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Become a Pika Data Detective! 🔎🐾 What can pika behavior data tell us—and what happens when an AI-generated interpretation gets it wrong?

A pika sitting on a rock in the sunshine

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UCAR Center for Science Education @ucarscied.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Why are cities often hotter than the areas around them? ☀️🏙️ Learn about urban heat islands, what causes them, and how things like shade trees and reflective surfaces can help keep cities cool in this Animated Atmosphere video!

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UCAR Center for Science Education @ucarscied.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Last week, we celebrated the 2026 Advancing Environmental Literacy Award at the Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education (CAEE) Awards Celebration! 🎉

CAEE Award sitting on a table in the Mesa Lab Sun Earth Connections exhibit

The projector screen during the award ceremony. There are photos of each award recipient around the edge with text saying "thank you for the work you do each day to connect Coloradans to our environment and each other"

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UCAR Center for Science Education @ucarscied.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

What's up with weather fronts? ☁️ Weather fronts are places where different air masses meet. Learn about the different types of weather fronts and the conditions they bring, how they move, and more in this Animated Atmosphere video!

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UCAR Center for Science Education @ucarscied.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Captain’s Log. Stardate 80317.5. The 30th anniversary of Super Science Saturday approaches. These are the voyages of @ncar-ucar.bsky.social. Its continuing mission: to explore our planet Earth; to seek new answers to complex questions; and to boldly go where no one has gone before.

Super Science Saturday. 30 years of boldly going. Saturday, November 7, 2026, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. NSF NCAR Mesa Lab. 1850 Table Mesa Drive, Boulder, CO, 80305

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UCAR Center for Science Education @ucarscied.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Earlier this summer, we hosted our second annual National Ozone Garden Network Workshop! Partners from across the country came together to exchange ideas on programming and data collection, and learn from @ncar-ucar.bsky.social scientists about the impacts of ground-level ozone.

A group photo of workshop participants with the Flatirons in the background

Three educators crouched down examining plants in the Mesa Lab Ozone Garden

A member garden representative giving a presentation about their garden to the workshop participants

Five panelists sitting on the stage during the Air Quality panel

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UCAR Center for Science Education @ucarscied.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Looking for a way to expand your students' learning outside the classroom? Reservations for in-person field trips to the @ncar-ucar.bsky.social Mesa Lab for Spring 2027 are now open!

A field trip group outside exploring the Ozone Garden

A tour group standing in the atrium of the Mesa Lab in front of the Sun mural

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NSF NCAR & UCAR @ncar-ucar.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Don't forget! Tomorrow, our next Explorer Series lecture covers the results from a multi-year expedition in Alaska collecting ocean & air samples to study the drivers of weather. 📅: Wed., Sept. 2, 7-8:30 P.M. MDT 📍: Mesa Lab & online Register: edec.ucar.edu/events/alaska-hx

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UCAR Center for Science Education @ucarscied.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

We’re excited to highlight another stop in our Ozone Garden site visits! This time, we visited the South Dakota Discovery Center, where their Ozone Garden is helping connect local observations with a much bigger picture of air quality and our atmosphere. 🌱

The South Dakota Discovery Center building

Three SDDC staff smiling in the new garden

A long raised garden bed with plants beginning to grow

A smaller ozone garden in front of the SDDC building

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UCAR Center for Science Education @ucarscied.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Attention homeschool families, co-ops, and small groups across the Front Range, you're invited to our Fall Homeschool Day: Career Connections 🧑‍🔬! 🗓️ Thursday, October 1, 2026 📍 NSF NCAR Mesa Lab

Three kids gathered around the lightning exhibit in the Mesa Lab

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UCAR Center for Science Education @ucarscied.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

We are proud to receive the 2026 Advancing Environmental Literacy Award from the Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education, recognizing the contributions of our organization and our Director, Becca Hatheway, to environmental literacy in Colorado and beyond.

A group of kids sitting outside behind the Mesa Lab writing on clipboards during a Learning Lab

An educator and a group of kids sitting on the stairs in the Mesa Lab looking up at the dropsonde exhibit in wonder

A group photo of the SciEd staff standing between two rows of solar panels

Becca Hatheway explaining an exhibit to an educator

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UCAR Center for Science Education @ucarscied.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

Ever wonder how hailstones grow from tiny droplets of water into chunks of ice that can range from pea- to grapefruit-sized? This Animated Atmosphere video takes you and Jeff the yeti inside a thunderstorm to discover the science behind this super cool weather phenomenon! ⛈️ 🎨: FableVision Studios

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NSF NCAR & UCAR @ncar-ucar.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Get behind the desk of a solar scientist at our NSF NCAR Mauna Loa Solar Observatory… right from the comfort of the Mesa Lab in Boulder! 😎 Our latest exhibit, Sun-Earth Connections, gives you a hands-on look at a workstation in the observatory! Take a tour w/ @ucarscied.bsky.social: bit.ly/45uNyPO

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UCAR Center for Science Education @ucarscied.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Calling all K-12 educators! 📚🌎 Want to be the first to hear about free classroom resources, upcoming teacher professional development opportunities, and spring field trips—both virtual and in-person?

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UCAR Center for Science Education @ucarscied.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

Tuesday evening, members of our team were at the Telluride Library for the Pinhead Institute Punk Science: Surprising Science Superpowers of Air event!

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UCAR Center for Science Education @ucarscied.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Last month, thirteen educators from rural Colorado districts came together at the @ncar-ucar.bsky.social Mesa Lab for the STEM Career Connections (STEMCC) Summer Institute! 🎉

Seven educators walking around in grass behind the Mesa Lab during an activity

Three circuit boards connected to a sensor sitting on the dry pine needle covered ground

Five educators discussing in a group while one records answers on a piece of white poster paper stuck on the wall

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UCAR Center for Science Education @ucarscied.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

Join Snacks the Dog as he learns what makes a tornado a tornado! In this Animated Atmosphere video, Snacks (and you!) will discover the definition of a tornado, where they most commonly occur in the U.S., how tornado alerts are broadcast, and where to seek shelter if a tornado is approaching.

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UCAR Center for Science Education @ucarscied.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

Looking for a cool way to spend a hot summer day? ☀️ Escape the heat and explore the @ncar-ucar.bsky.social Mesa Lab! Join one of our free public noon tours to learn about the building, atmospheric science, and the fascinating research happening at NSF NCAR.

A tour guide speaking to a group of fourteen people standing in the foyer of the Mesa Lab. They are in front of a large sun art mural

Two kids standing with a tour guide interacting with a part of the weather exhibit

A group of nine people standing in front of the "Watching the Weather" exhibit listening to a tour guide

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UCAR Center for Science Education @ucarscied.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Earlier this month, our team headed to Salt Lake City for more National Ozone Garden Network site visits!

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UCAR Center for Science Education @ucarscied.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

Happy Summer Solstice! ☀️ Today marks the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, when the Sun reaches its northernmost point in the sky, and we experience our greatest amount of daylight.

The Weather Trail behind the NSF NCAR Mesa Lab leading towards the Flatirons in the background

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UCAR Center for Science Education @ucarscied.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

What makes a hurricane a hurricane? In this Animated Atmosphere video, you'll meet one of Earth's most powerful storms and learn how hurricanes form, why they can be so dangerous, and the different hazards they bring. 🎨: @FableVision Studios

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UCAR Center for Science Education @ucarscied.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

What keeps ocean water moving around our planet? 🌊🌎 Beneath the waves, a vast network of currents is constantly at work. Known as thermohaline circulation, or the "great ocean conveyor belt," this system moves water around the globe based on differences in temperature and salinity. 📸: CLIVAR

A map of the Earth showing thermohaline circulation. Purple arrows indicate cold, deep ocean currents. Red arrows show shallow, warm water ocean currents.

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NSF NCAR & UCAR @ncar-ucar.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

It’s a bird. It’s a plane. It’s a laboratory ON a plane!✈️ 🐦‍⬛ Join us at the upcoming Explorer Series lecture to hear about recent discoveries from field projects using "labs in the sky." 🗓️: Wed., June 17 from 7-8:30 P.M. MDT 📍: NSF NCAR Mesa Lab & online Register: bit.ly/4vQ2inI

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UCAR Center for Science Education @ucarscied.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

Today, we're celebrating the power of curiosity, exploration, and discovery through interactive learning—or simply, play!

Two adults and a young girl playing with small colorful plastic bricks during an activity

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NSF NCAR & UCAR @ncar-ucar.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

FastEddy + drone observations = neighborhood-level wind predictions! A collaboration between NSF NCAR & @universityofky.bsky.social aims to improve low-altitude wind predictions (notoriously difficult to model) by combining weather observations from uncrewed aircraft systems with FastEddy.

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NSF NCAR & UCAR @ncar-ucar.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

Summer internship season is well underway for the 2026 intern cohort! ☀️ In late May, students from across the country arrived in Boulder to begin their summer research experiences. Throughout orientation week, students participated in training workshops and community-building activities.

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UCAR Center for Science Education @ucarscied.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

What do you see when you look up at the clouds? ☁️👀 A crab? The belly of a whale? Maybe a field of mushrooms drifting across the sky? It's amazing how our brains can turn clouds into familiar shapes and scenes.

Clouds over the Foothills with a crab drawn into the clouds

The belly of a humpback whale drawn into cloud ripples

Birds-eye view of clouds taken from an airplane with mushrooms drawn into the clouds

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UCAR Center for Science Education @ucarscied.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

When you check the forecast, do you ever think to check the Sun? Space weather begins with the Sun—and while invisible to the naked eye, it can impact satellites, communications systems, power grids, and even astronaut safety. ☀️🚀

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UCAR Center for Science Education @ucarscied.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

Have you ever noticed symbols like blue triangles or red semicircles on a weather map and wondered what they mean? 🌦️

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NSF NCAR & UCAR @ncar-ucar.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

Experience fluxART. Join us for a special Explorer Series event discovering creative insights and sharing multimedia artwork w/ Faculty Fellow Maoya Bassiouni & artists Julia Oldham & Mallery Quetawki. 🗓️: Wednesday, May 27, 7:00 – 8:30 P.M. MDT 📍: Mesa Lab and online webcast bit.ly/4nILVXp

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UCAR Center for Science Education @ucarscied.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

Wildfires are commonly characterized by the total number of acres burned rather than the rate at which they spread. However, studying the speed of a fire adds another important dimension that can help scientists better understand, manage, and prevent fires in the future. 🔥

A forest of charred tree trunks with some grass and other ground-level plants beginning to regrow

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UCAR Center for Science Education @ucarscied.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

Museums help connect us to the world around us—and at the @ncar-ucar.bsky.social Mesa Lab Visitor Center, discovery is happening every day! ✨🔬

A weather balloon releases into the sky with a large group of kids eagerly watching.

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UCAR Center for Science Education @ucarscied.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

Join us June 9-10, 2026, for From Fossils to Forecasts, a two-day professional development workshop designed for K-12 educators interested in exploring connections between Colorado's ancient past, present, and future.

Five people working on an activity during a professional development workshop

Three people writing on worksheets at a table with a quote overlayed on top saying "The activities and resources were engaging and I believe my students will be challenged by these lessons."

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UCAR Center for Science Education @ucarscied.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

We had a great time yesterday at Operation Water Festival!💧 Hosted by the City of Boulder, this event brought local students together for a day of interactive learning all about water—from drinking water treatment and conservation to ecosystems, geology, and the science of water on Earth!

Students are sitting at two long tables working on an activity with an educator standing in front of a screen at the front of the room

Eleven students are excitedly working on activity worksheets at a long table

Two students are writing on worksheets on a table

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UCAR Center for Science Education @ucarscied.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

We’re stratos-fearlessly celebrating National Pun Day by talking about the layers of Earth’s atmosphere! 🌎☁️ Earth’s atmosphere is made up of several layers—the troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere—with each layer having its own unique characteristics!

Clouds and the moon are slightly visible at the top of the atmosphere

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UCAR Center for Science Education @ucarscied.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

Last week, our team visited a new member of the National Ozone Garden Network: the Walter Anderson Museum of Art! 🌿🎨

Four people standing together smiling in front of a wall mural in the Walter Anderson Museum of Art

Three people exploring exhibits in the art museum

Three people examining garden beds outside of the museum

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UCAR Center for Science Education @ucarscied.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

We still have a few spots open for summer field trips this July and August!

Three students exploring the Sun and Space Weather exhibit at the Mesa Lab

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UCAR Center for Science Education @ucarscied.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

Happy #TeacherAppreciationDay! Today we’re celebrating the educators who inspire curiosity, spark discovery, and help students connect to the world around them. 🌎 Thank you for everything you do!

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UCAR Center for Science Education @ucarscied.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

Join us for the annual Earth Day, Every Day celebration hosted by the Cities of Lafayette and Louisville tomorrow, May 2, from 10 am-2 pm. Bring your friends and family to this free event, open to all ages. From food trucks to a scavenger hunt, there is something for everyone!

A flyer for the event. "Fun for the whole family. Earth Day, Every Day. Saturday, May 2 10am-2pm. Bob L. Burger Recreation Center parking lot at 105. W. Baseline Road, Lafayette"

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UCAR Center for Science Education @ucarscied.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

Last chance to join us TODAY! Don’t miss our Rising Heat professional development workshop happening this afternoon—designed to help educators explore the science of extreme heat and how it impacts our communities.

Two people focusing on a drawing in front of them

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UCAR Center for Science Education @ucarscied.bsky.social · 25/04/2026

What is our perfect date? April 25th ⛅ Because it's not too hot and not too cold... all you need is a light jacket.

A river running down a mountain valley on a suny day

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NSF NCAR & UCAR @ncar-ucar.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

If you’re local to #Colorado, consider enjoying #ArborDay with a visit to the Mesa Lab’s forested Walter Orr Roberts Weather Trail. 🌲 Located behind the building, you can walk the weather trail, shaded by evergreens, and enjoy the stops that describe weather events & our research around them.

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UCAR Center for Science Education @ucarscied.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

What is a Moon Tree? 🌕🌳 In 1971, NASA launched the Apollo 14 mission. Command Pilot Stuart Roosa chose to bring tree seeds to the moon and back in his personal preference kit. Once back on Earth, these seeds were planted across the United States, and they became known as Moon Trees!

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UCAR Center for Science Education @ucarscied.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

Looking for in-person teacher professional development opportunities over the summer? Join us June 9-10, 2026, for From Fossils to Forecasts and explore Colorado's ancient past, present, and future!

A scientist holding up a microscope slide with a specimen on it to the camera. Text along the bottom says "June 9-10. From Fossils to Forecasts: Unlocking Colorado's Changing Environment"

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National Weather Service @nws.noaa.gov · 22/04/2026

Happy #EarthDay! Meteorologists have the pleasure of looking back at our planet via NOAA GOES satellites as part of our everyday job. Never gets old. See for yourself: weather.gov/satellite. Also, visit noaa.gov/earthday for science stories, videos, and citizen science opportunities. #EarthDayNOAA

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NSF NCAR & UCAR @ncar-ucar.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

From the ocean to the exosphere, we’re dedicated to advancing Earth system science for the betterment of society– not just on #EarthDay but every day! 🌎 Our experts harness observations, models, instruments, HPC & other resources to ensure NSF NCAR supports cutting-edge research.

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UCAR Center for Science Education @ucarscied.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

Happy Earth Day! 🌎 Today is a chance to pause and get curious about the planet we call home! From the air we breathe to the water we rely on, Earth is full of systems, stories, and connections waiting to be explored.

A cloudy blue sky over a green grassy field

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UCAR Center for Science Education @ucarscied.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

Thunderstorms are powerful, complex, and surprisingly common—there are about 2,000 happening around the world at any given moment! ⛈️ However, not all thunderstorms are the same! Thunderstorms can be categorized by convection cell structure, or by the location they form and the reason the air rises.

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UCAR Center for Science Education @ucarscied.bsky.social · 16/04/2026

We’re excited to be part of Party for Our Planet at the Children’s Museum of Denver this Friday! 🌎

A scientist in a big curly white wig standing behind a booth, demonstrating an activity using two two-liter bottles attached at their openings

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UCAR Center for Science Education @ucarscied.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

Field trips to the @ncar-ucar.bsky.social Mesa Lab for the Fall 2026 semester are now open!

A group of 10 people standing outside on the Weather Trail behind the Mesa Lab

A classroom with people standing, walking around, and sitting at four tables

Eight people exploring the weather exhibits on the first floor of the Mesa Lab

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