Eighth graders create data-driven art inspired by climate records on Niwot Ridge.

Data-driven art created by an eighth grader from Angevine Middle School during the INSTAAR Middle School Showcase at CU Boulder. *Photo by Alex Rose.*

During a recent field trip to the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research at CU Boulder, eighth graders transformed graphs of long-term data from Niwot Ridge into art.

A student from Angevine Middle School transforms long-term data from Niwot Ridge into data artwork. *Photo by Alex Rose.*

In an activity developed by Dr. Alex Rose and CU Boulder undergraduates, eighth graders from Angevine Middle School in Lafayatte, Colorado analyzed graphs of long-term alpine tundra temperature and precipitation data, and then illustrated the graphs to create data artworks.

This data-driven activity was one of many hands-on STEAM activities that took place during this year’s Middle School Showcase put on by the students, faculty, and staff of the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR). As part of this event, 180+ middle schoolers toured research labs, hung out with our resident Triceratops, and learned about all of the cool science INSTAAR does.