Successful Blitzes Generate Curiosity
The Iowa Science Phenomena website from Iowa PBS offers a growing collection of local standards-aligned phenomena, unique and relevant to the students and teachers of Iowa.
In an effort to expand its offerings representing all regions of Iowa, Iowa PBS was awarded a 2023 Iowa REAP-CEP grant to organize four regional phenomena events. Using the successful “Biobllitz” model for citizen science, Iowa PBS coordinated with outdoor and science education experts from each of the four regions to hold “Phenomena Blitzes” across the state. These included:
- Moorehead Park: Danielle Bennet, naturalist, Ida County Conservation and Dawn Snyder, retired naturalist, Woodbury County Conservation
- Buena Vista County Conservation Park: Katie Struss, naturalist, Buena Vista County Conservation; Dayton Harson, Pocahontas County Conservation; Megan Bennigsdorf, elementary teacher, Laurens-Marathon School District
- Wolfe Nature Center and Anderson Wildlife Area: Cassandra Barbarosa, naturalist, Montgomery County Conservation and Nathan Van Zante, middle school teacher, Johnston School District
- Jefferson County Park: Austin Roe, naturalist, Jefferson County Conservation and Kala Miller, middle school teacher, Fairfield School District
Each event included a guided nature tour and featured tips for improving amateur nature photography skills. Attendees were encouraged to contribute their photos to a shared online photo album for future use by Iowa Science Phenomena. Following the public event, educators from the regions were invited to attend a professional development workshop focused on effective phenomena strategies. The teachers, along with collaboration from local experts, used the nearly 500 event attendee-contributed photographs to identify relevant phenomena for contributing to the Iowa Science Phenomena website.
As a result of these successful events, Iowa Science Phenomena is excited to offer these newly contributed phenomena. Designed to encourage curiosity, we invite you to explore these phenomena, see what you notice and wonder about each, and consider what phenomena you have in your area!
Wondering how you can contribute to Iowa Science Phenomena? Email us at phenomena@iowapbs.org to learn more!
Tree Girdling & Northern Lights
Tree Girdling: What is wrong with this tree? Why would someone cut around the trunk of the tree? Tree girdling is used to remove trees without cutting the tree down, but why would this practice be used? (Submitted by Kala Miller)
Visible Northern Lights: The northern lights, or aurora borealis, have been frequently visible further south of the poles and are caused by the magnetic field surrounding the Earth and the charged particles from the sun. But how is Earth's magnetic field generated and what is its role in creating these colors? (Submitted by Verna L. Vanik)
Tornadoes & Frogs
Tree Destruction from Tornado at Hacklebarney Park: Many trees in Montgomery County were left damaged after an EF-3 tornado in May 2024. Can trees repair themselves after damage from a storm and are there things humans can do to help this tree repair itself? (Submitted by Elizabeth Henry)
Boreal Chorus Frog Calling: Boreal chorus frog songs are an excellent first sign of spring’s arrival. Once the outside temperatures reach approximately 50 degrees Fahrenheit, the boreal chorus frogs emerge from their winter slumber in the ice or frozen earth. What do you think drives the frogs to wake up? Why is it beneficial for some frogs to emerge before others? (Submitted by Cassandra Barbosa)
Bees & Fawns
Bee Covered in Pollen: Observed in a Council Bluffs park, this bee is covered in pollen. Flowers have an abundance of pollen that is picked up by the bee. Where will this pollen end up? (Submitted by Hannah Haarhues-Casey and Kelly Carr)
Fawn Hiding: Mother deer teach their young to stay silent and still to camouflage them from predators until they are old enough and strong enough to follow her. What might the mom (doe) be doing while the baby deer (fawn) is hiding? How do other animals teach their offspring? (Submitted by Megan Bennigsdorf)
Owls, Hills & Roads
Mating Pair of Barred Owls: Owls only tend to interact together in a coupling and are territorial in order to protect their hunting grounds and their young. How do barred owls become mates? Do their young have a better chance of survival? (Submitted by Kasha Shear)
Cat Steps in the Loess Hills: The Loess Hills of western Iowa are a unique landform, the formation of which has resulted in characteristic "steps" in the hills, but what is causing this unique stair-step formation? (Submitted by Dawn Snyder and Lisa Bruning)
Pink Rock Roads: Distinct differences in road surfaces across Iowa are often a product of the materials available and are connected to geologic processes over time and location. What materials are available for creating road surfaces? What do the roads look like in your area? (Submitted by Stacey Snyder)