College of Arts and Sciences

Earth Sciences Welcomes UMS Students for Earth Day

The Annual Spring Event Celebrates Its Fifth Year

Tuesday, 26 May 2026 - For the fifth year running, the Department of Earth Sciences and the Center for Earthquake Research and Information (CERI) welcomed University Middle School (UMS) students to campus for Earth Day.

Faculty and students in Earth Sciences and CERI hosted the entire sixth-grade class at Johnson Hall for an afternoon of interactive science demonstrations and hands-on activities centered around the theme, "Earth Futures." The purpose of these activities — all designed by UofM Earth Sciences students — is to ignite scientific inquiry and stimulate interest in the Earth and environment among UMS students.

After arriving at Johnson Hall, the sixth-graders were divided into groups and issued mock passports for the day. The groups then took turns exploring 3D VR fault lines, excavating archaeological artifacts, creating seed bombs, identifying satellites and even simulating earthquakes themselves, among other science-based projects. 

Students also participated in an Earth Future Art-A-Thon, where they created artwork inspired by the future of the planet, followed by storytelling sessions with local artists who shared their own Earth-themed works for Earth Day. Throughout the day, the students' pieces were glued onto a custom-made globe, resulting in a unique art collaboration between UMS and UofM students that represents a meaningful blend of science, art and community voice.

The Earth Day Event is part of an ongoing partnership between Earth Sciences, CERI and UMS. The goal is to engage students over the spring semester through Project-Based Learning (PBL) activities aligned with the school's sixth-grade project themes and learning objectives, culminating in this signature event. The interactive nature of the event allows students to build on what they've learned and gain a practical understanding of the concepts covered in the classroom.

This year, the event was supported through the Environmental Humanities Research Cluster at the University of Memphis. The addition of the first-ever art-a-thon to the day's programming, along with the increase in student volunteers for the demonstrations, speaks to the program's growth and the partnership's continuing success.

In the future, Earth Sciences and CERI hope to further expand the event's impact and scale as part of their combined effort to bring the campus and community together through science-based activities.