Randolph College Hosts Area’s First Science Festival 2009
The Randolph College Society of Physics Students hosted a Science Festival on April 4-5, 2009. A Science Festival is an event that brings science to the public in some unique ways; there is something for everyone regardless of age or interest in science. Through the science festival, we show connections between science and people’s lives. We show the connection to art and literature, and give people an opportunity to learn about science through hands-on activities.
The Randolph College Science Festival grew out of our very popular Science Day for 3-6th grade children. This year, the Science Day was one event in the two-day festival.
The 55 Randolph Volunteers for Science Day 2009
The festival began with the 5th annual Science Day on Saturday afternoon from noon until 5 pm. Science Day is partially sponsored by AREVA, who has been a partner since the first Science Day. The Science Day is put on by the Society of Physics Students and the Education Department. This year, it also included activities sponsored by the chemistry club, the biology club, and the environmental science club. In Science Day, children are organized into groups of 25, and rotate through 30 minute activities.
The
activities included building a house on an earthquake shake-table (picture
left), a science quiz show, the “egg drop” (building a contraption to protect an
egg), a nature scavenger hunt, chemistry (crystal formation), biology (making a
cookie cell model), a roller-coaster building activity, circuit activity, and a
few others. As well as the approximately 200 children who attended, we had about
100 other teachers and parents who participated.
After the Science Day, the Physics Department hosted an open observatory, and it was a perfect evening for observing stars and planets. Then we had a late night physics demonstration show. On Sunday, we started with a biomechanics talk from Orthopedist, Dr. Peter Caprice. Then we had a science poetry and song open mic featuring readings from Kelley Swain, author of Darwin’s Microscope. The Theater Department then sponsored a reading of the play Copenhagen. Our final event was a very popular “Scientist Goes to the Movies” viewing of Jurassic Park, with commentary on the science by biology professor Doug Shedd.
Please join us in 2010 for our Science Festival Weekend March 26-28! Information will be forthcoming on the website (http://physics.randolphcollege.edu/sps) by February of 2010.
Science Day Activities and Lesson Plans: