Check out Texas A&M one of our Satellite Festivals!
OLLEGE STATION, Oct. 5, 2010 - Texas A&M University officials invite the Brazos Valley community to experience the nationwide excitement of science and engineering later this month as part of the USA Science & Engineering Festival, set for Saturday, Oct. 23.
No fees or tickets are required for the free public event, which will showcase the best of Texas A&M science and engineering with a simultaneous, daylong series of hands-on activities, demonstrations and displays in the Chemistry, Zachry Engineering and Mitchell Physics Buildings on the Texas A&M campus.
The event is one of nearly 100 satellite events to be hosted across the country in conjunction with the inaugural 2010 USA Science & Engineering Festival, a two-week national initiative intended to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers.
As thousands of people converge on Washington, D.C.'s, National Mall Oct. 23-24 to mark the conclusion of the country's first nationwide celebration of science, Texas A&M's College of Science and Dwight Look College of Engineering will team up to bring this national priority issue to the local forefront by encouraging participants to have fun with science and engineering -- and perhaps help them to decide to pursue studies and careers in those fields.
"As a physics graduate of Texas A&M, I am looking forward to welcoming thousands of future scientists and engineers to Aggieland," said Texas A&M President R. Bowen Loftin. "Fun and engaging events such as this open up a world of wonder and introduce a multitude of opportunities in science and engineering to youth. Who knows -- one of the participants could be a future Nobel Prize winner, develop a cure for cancer or impact many generations' future by becoming a high school science or math teacher."the square-wheeled bicycle
Texas A&M's celebration will be organized around three simultaneous satellite events: Big Physics Day, Chemistry Open House and Exploration Gallery and Discover Engineering (described in brief below). Highlighted activities include hands-on science and engineering demonstrations from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at all three venues; Chemistry Road Shows at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m.; flight-simulator demonstrations at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. at Discover Engineering; and a public lecture by 1986 Nobel Prize winner Dr. Dudley R. Herschbach at 3:30 p.m. at Big Physics Day that will conclude all festival events.
In addition to exciting exhibits and displays manned by Texas A&M faculty, staff and students, each satellite event will feature representatives from the Texas A&M Office of Admissions, who will be available to answer participants' questions about applying to Texas A&M.
a physics experiment
All events are sponsored by Texas A&M and presented by the Dwight Look College of Engineering, the College of Science, the Department of Chemistry and the Department of Physics and Astronomy.
For the latest details regarding Texas A&M's USA Science & Engineering Festival, including a tentative schedule of events and parking information, please visit http://usafestival.tamu.edu/.
##########
About Big Physics Day
Unleash your inner scientist aboard a square-wheeled bicycle or try your hand at generating electricity and shooting balloons with lasers -- three of roughly 50 fun experiments and displays illustrating basic scientific concepts and principles presented by Texas A&M Department of Physics and Astronomy. After enjoying the Low-Temperature Physics Extravaganzas at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., sit back and soak in some Nobel inspiration during a 3:30 p.m. public lecture by Texas A&M's own Nobel laureate, Dr. Dudley R. Herschbach. All activities are situated amidst the breathtaking backdrop of the new George P. Mitchell Physics Buildings, which feature an 83-foot Foucault pendulum -- a silent yet stunning demonstration of Earth's rotation -- as well as intricate Penrose tile, unique because it cannot be shifted and still match the original pattern.
About Chemistry Open House and Exploration Gallery
For the 23rd consecutive year, start your National Chemistry Week with a bang by celebrating the fun and intrigue behind the everyday, elemental science of chemistry with this award-winning event sponsored by the Texas A&M Department of Chemistry and the local Texas A&M American Chemical Society (ACS) section. Kids of all ages are treated to more than 20 different science activities, highlighted by exciting demonstrations and how-to exhibitions as part of three Chemistry Road Shows (10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m.). Additional attractions include public lectures on the BP oil spill and the use of chemicals to gauge heart disease risk in children, goodie bags and door prizes, as well as research laboratory and metal shop tours within the Chemistry Building Complex.
About Discover Engineering
Discover Engineering is hosted by Texas A&M's Dwight Look College of Engineering, one of the largest engineering colleges in the nation. All engineering departments and many engineering student organizations will present hands-on activities and demonstrations about engineering. In addition, several engineering faculty will offer laboratory tours of their facilities, while staff from admissions and financial aid will be able to answer questions for prospective students. The event is designed to give students, parents and teachers a chance to have a closer look at engineering at Texas A&M. Come and play against Slashbot, the Guitar Hero-playing robot, or come and train like an astronaut. All activities will be based in the lobby of the Zachry Engineering Center.
About the Inaugural USA Science & Engineering Festival
The inaugural 2010 USA Science & Engineering Festival, slated to run from October 10-24 and underwritten by Lockheed Martin, is being billed as the ultimate multi-cultural, multi-generational and multi-disciplinary celebration of science across the U.S. The initiative, which will open Oct. 10 with a gala concert at the University of Maryland, involves many affiliated activities, including the Kavli Science Video Contest, and will culminate in a two-day expo Oct. 23-24 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., featuring more than 500 science and engineering organizations from around the country.
- Log in to post comments