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. Each activity is designed and led by undergraduate and graduate students from both departments with the goal of igniting scientific inquiry and stimulating interest in Earth and the environment among UMS students.
This year, the event included a special theme, "Earth Futures," supported through the Environmental Humanities Research Cluster at the University of Memphis. After arriving at Johnson Hall, the sixth-graders were divided into groups. Each group then took turns exploring 3D VR fault lines, excavating archaeological artifacts, creating seed bombs, identifying satellites and simulating earthquakes themselves, among other science-based projects.
This year, the event included a special theme, "Earth Futures," supported through the Environmental Humanities Research Cluster fund. After arriving at Johnson Hall, the sixth-graders were divided into groups. Each group then took turns exploring 3D VR fault lines, excavating archaeological artifacts, creating seed bombs, identifying satellites and simulating earthquakes themselves, among other science-based projects.
Students also participated in an Earth Future Art-A-Thon, where they created artwork based on the future of the planet, followed by storytelling sessions with local artists sharing their own Earth-related works. 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 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 addition of the first-ever art-a-thon to the event programming 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.
