Purdue News
Purdue News
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April 15, 2004 Purdue’s Spring Fest seeks young scientistsWEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. –The School of Science at Purdue University is offering an opportunity for high school students to experience the world of 21st century science. Mathematics, science research projects and hands-on activities will be featured in this weekend's annual Spring Fest, on Purdue's campus on Saturday (4/17) and Sunday (4/18). "Spring Fest is for all ages, but high school students considering the study of math or science at the university level will find that Spring Fest provides an exciting glimpse of current issues covering the broad range of the sciences," said Jeffrey S. Vitter, the Frederick L. Hovde Dean of the School of Science. Undergraduate Research Day provides a look at one of the hallmarks of an undergraduate science education at Purdue: the opportunity to work with and conduct research under the guidance of world-class researchers and faculty. The School of Science’s events are part of the campus-wide Spring Fest, information on which can be found at http://www.ces.purdue.edu/sfest/ "For high school students who are interested in pursuing a science career, this is a must-attend event that will introduce them to the vital research being done on Purdue's campus," Vitter said. Each year, the School of Science and the Purdue Science Student Council host the Undergraduate Research Day and Research Forum to highlight these projects, which provide opportunities to interact with Purdue students and professors. This year's event will be held on Saturday (4/17), in Stewart Center rooms 218 A-D and 202, and will begin at 1 p.m. with a question-and-answer panel discussion. Current Purdue students and faculty will answer pertinent research questions, followed by student presentations and poster displays at 2 p.m. Additional activities include: – Science Outreach Showcase: For high school students thinking about a career as a secondary school science or math teacher, the K-12 Outreach team is sponsoring the Science Outreach Showcase, a variety of hands-on experiments and activities for all ages. Students can participate or watch as others learn from doing basic science activities. The tent will be located on Memorial Mall, near the Stewart Center on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Discover Biology: The life sciences involve many areas of relevance for today's world: health and medical issues, agricultural development, the study and understanding of life forms and research into the inner workings of viruses. For students considering professional programs in medicine, an undergraduate degree in biology from Purdue is the perfect preparation. The Department of Biological Sciences will be hosting demonstrations in the lobby of Lilly Hall of Life Sciences. Students can visit faculty and undergraduates and share in their enthusiasm for biology. Saturday and Sunday activities include hands-on tidal pool with sea urchins, starfish and sand dollars; a visual journey of a single cell becoming a multi-cellular organism; observation of chicken and sea urchin embryos; a demonstration of the development of a fly's eye; and the chance to have an electrocardiogram. – Einstein vs. The Bug: This presentation features one of the hallmarks of Spring Fest: The Bug Bowl. This is a fun and entertaining application of some basic laws of physics. Who can project a cricket the farthest – a human cricket spitter or a projectile gun from the physics department? Come and find out in Einstein vs. The Bug, a humorous and informational stage show that pits the entomology department (Team Bug) against the physics department (Team Einstein). Show times at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. in Stewart Center, Fowler Hall. – Physics FunFest: FunFest makes science learning fun with audience participation in demonstrations of some simple concepts. These include liquid nitrogen experiments, hair-raising experiences from a Van de Graaf generator and marshmallows in space. People of all ages will enjoy the fun and excitement of science. Show times are 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. in Stewart Center, Fowler Hall. For more information, contact David Lageveen, Director of Alumni Relations, at (765) 494-4344 or lageveen@purdue.edu. Writer: Chad Boutin, (765) 494-2081, cboutin@purdue.edu Source: Jeffrey S. Vitter, (765) 494-1729 Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
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