MEDIA ADVISORY

TO:                      News Directors, Education Reporters and PSA Directors

FROM:                 University Relations

SUBJECT:            Science Potpourri 2001

DATE & TIME:     Saturday, April 7, 2001, noon to 5 p.m.

LOCATION:         UAF Natural Sciences Facility, Yukon Drive

Delve into the delectable and delightfully disastrous side of science at the University of Alaska Fairbanks College of Science, Engineering and Mathematics Science Potpourri from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 7, at the Natural Science Facility.

Dare to check in on the chemistry department’s "Dangerous Demos" where they’ll give new meaning to blowing up balloons or figure out the scientific principles behind "Physics Phun" during Science Theater presentations in the Boyd Lecture Hall. Enjoy a hair-raising experience with the van der Graff generator and match wits with mathematicians solving brain-teasers.

If you crave action and adventure, you’ll have a chance to let some slime slip through your fingers, visit with a live reindeer from the Large Animal Research Station or make waves, simulate earthquakes and even use a mineral stream table to flood a miniature town. Find out what’s living in your backyard pond water, examine a few bug specimens with the electron microscope or use a computer to spy on cavorting molecules.

Try and manipulate a bicycle wheel on handlebars for a gyroscopic twist or go for a spin on a turntable to demonstrate angular momentum or design your own tie-dyed bandana. If that’s not enough to wet your appetite for science, have a scoop of liquid nitrogen ice cream made on the spot.

Free parking for Science Potpourri is available in the lot behind the Natural Sciences Facility located on Yukon Drive between the upper residence halls and the UA Museum of the North.

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CONTACT: Marlys Schneider, UAF Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at 907-474-6287.

CJB/062ma/04-03-01