May 03, 2012
Students from UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health participated in UNC’s Science Expo last month and helped educate local youth about eating healthfully and making wise choices based on sugar content in food.

The Science Expo, part of a statewide program with more than 500 events in North Carolina, emphasizes teaching science in a child-friendly way. UNC’s event, organized by the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, featured more than 75 exhibitors, 15 laboratory “open houses” and a number of stage celebrations.

Science Expo guests explored the Sugar Sleuth exhibit.

Science Expo guests explored the Sugar Sleuth exhibit.

The student exhibits, “Sugar Shocker,” “Choose My Plate” and “Sugar Sleuth,” were developed as part of a classroom project for a course taught by clinical assistant professor Lori Evarts in the School’s Public Health Leadership Program (PHLP).

Each of the School’s exhibits provided an educational as well as an interactive component, creating an opportunity for children of all ages to engage in the learning process.

“Parents and children tackled the hands-on nutrition challenges as a team,” said La Shonya McNeil, a PHLP master’s student who participated in the Expo. “As they rotated between the complementary stations, many were surprised to learn of the quantity of sugar in foods and beverages that they consume.”

McNeil added that several people said the displays were informative and fun, “including one teacher who shared that the food plate visual was much easier [than the pyramid] for his students to comprehend.”
 
Participation in the Science Expo demonstrates the School’s strong commitment to public health education and service, said Sandra Martin, PhD, professor of maternal and child health and associate dean for research at the School.”This is just one of the many ways that our students reach out to improve the health of our local community.”

For additional information about this event, contact Research and Innovation Solutions.


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UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health contact: Linda Kastleman, communications editor, (919) 966-8317 or linda_kastleman@unc.edu.

 

 

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