Science Potpourri offers exploration, liquid nitrogen confection

April 6, 2014

Tanya Clayton

Matt Seymour and his daughter examine teeth of a dinosaur skull mold at last year's Science Potpourri.
Matt Seymour and his daughter examine teeth of a dinosaur skull mold at last year's Science Potpourri.


Meghan Murphy
907-474-7541
04/03/14


Liquid nitrogen may not conjure images of dessert, but at the University of Alaska Fairbanks Science Potpourri, scientists use the unconventional ingredient to make ice cream.

The UAF College of Natural Science and Mathematics will host the free science festival on Saturday, April 12, from noon to 3 p.m. in the Reichardt Building on the Fairbanks campus.

In addition to liquid nitrogen ice cream, the event will feature a potpourri of activities, such as a marine touch tank, remote-controlled Lego robots and heat-sensitive cameras that show the different temperatures of viewers' bodies. Children can dig for fossils, make storms, see real lava, make slime to take home and look at stars in a portable planetarium. A new activity, the Augmented Reality Sandbox, will premier at the event and allow people to map a landscape in real time.

There will be three shows:
12:30 p.m. — Welcome to the Vortex
1:30 p.m. — Blast off with Chemistry
2:30 p.m. — A 'Lava' Fun with Volcanoes

“It’s a chance for the kids to come out and explore science,” said Paul Layer, CNSM dean. “Science is fun, and we want to share that with the Fairbanks community.”

The event also features a variety of presenters and volunteers from CNSM, the UA Museum of the North, the School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, the Geophysical Institute, the Geographic Information Network of Alaska, the Lathrop High School Robotic Team, and the Community and Technical College’s Early Childhood Education program.

Activities are designed for children of all ages, including toddlers.  Adults should accompany all children. Free parking is available behind the Reichardt Building or in adjacent lots. For more information, visit www.uaf.edu/cnsm or call 907-474-7608.

ON THE WEB: www.uaf.edu/cnsm

MM/4-7-14/268-14