Field Fest Combines Science, Fitness, Family Fun

The UM Field Station and the Office for Research and Economic Development will host Field Fest on Oct. 18. Registration for both the 5K trail run and the kids' 1-mile fun run is open through 10 a.m. Oct. 17.

"This is an opportunity to get out and see the Field Station and some of the work researchers doing out there, but mostly it's an opportunity for a family fun day," said John Higginbotham, vice chancellor of research and economic development. "It's a great chance for people to explore a beautiful part of campus they might not have seen before and see how research connects to the world around them."

The event will kick off with the 5K trail run at 8 a.m., the fun run at 9 and awards for the runners at 9:30. After the runs, Ole Miss researchers will have science activities and games for children.

The activities and demonstrations will include tour stops around the grounds, nature stories from the Lafayette County and Oxford Public Library, a mammal tracking exhibit, a discussion on amphibian research and presentations from the Center for Mathematics and Science Education and the Ole Miss chapter of SEEDS, the Ecological Society of America's undergraduate environmental leadership program.

"We try to provide opportunities for folks from our local communities to escape from the daily grind of town and campus life and enjoy fresh air and sunshine in a natural setting," said Scott Knight, the station director.

Food trucks will arrive at 11 a.m., and a livestream of the Ole Miss vs. Georgia football game begins at 2:30 p.m. All proceeds support the UM Research Foundation.

"The foundation's mission is to extend UM's role in innovation and economic growth that benefits Mississippi and beyond," said Hughes Miller, the foundation's director. "Proceeds from this event directly support that work as we look to increase UM's impact on our communities."

Participants will also be encouraged to participate in Beat Week, a fundraising competition between fans of Ole Miss and the University of Georgia.

The Field Station, at 15 County Road 2078, is a 700-acre natural reserve that serves as an outdoor classroom, research site and community conservation area.

The station also hosts several science, technology engineering and math workshops for K-12 students and recently added new hiking and biking trails, Knight said.

"It really hit home for me during COVID that we really need our natural setting more than ever," he said. "We still need to be able to escape the hustle and bustle of town and campus life and find a place where we can hear birds singing, maybe spot a red summer tanager in a yellow poplar tree, smell the earthy loam of the forest floor, hear a tree frog calling and watch otters play."

For more information or to volunteer, contact Susan Page at sbpage@olemiss.edu.

Top: The UM Field Station offers hiking and biking trails, where families and outdoors enthusiasts can enjoy sunshine, natural beauty and glimpse of wildlife. Families, friends and football fans are welcome to the inaugural Ole Miss Field Fest, which will host a 5K and children's 1-mile fun run at the Field Station. Photo by Kevin Bain/Ole Miss Digital Imaging Services