PNNL

Three scientists from the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory recently gave a crash course on soil to young children at a local elementary school. Peyton Smith, Alex Crump and Taniya RoyChowdhury scurried around the classroom, helping the kids get dirty as they sifted through soil, exploring the world of microbes that are key to our planet's future.

The children, from pre-school through fifth grade, created their own mini-composters and mushroom gardens.

"What you get from the kids is a sense of enthusiasm. It keeps me fresh," said geologist Evan Arntzen, who helped organize this session and several others at the school. "I'm constantly amazed at how sharp their minds are," he said of the students.

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