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Free science.
Dave Blosser of Ogden just happened to be driving by Weber State University's marquee on Halloween day and saw an ad about Science Saturdays, an event that was happening right then.
He was trying to find some activities for him and his nephews for Halloween, so he stopped in -- and found a jam-packed event of cow organs, exploding ping-pong balls, and bouncing dry-ice bubbles.
"We have been to the planetarium before. But this is our first Science Saturday. It's been great," said Blosser, while waiting in line for a planetarium show.
Science Saturday is a new concept focused on bringing attention to scientific happenings at Weber State University. An event is offered one Saturday each month, with the exception of December and March.
"I would like the community to be a little more interested in science," said Sharon Ohlhorst, director of the Museum of Natural Science at WSU. "I want them to come up and see that science is fun, and all the cool things that go on."
This Saturday's event will cover the physics of flight, glow-in-the-dark material, behaviors of animals in winter, roller coasters, and a schedule of seven shows at the planetarium.
Planetarium shows include "Astro Otters" at 11:30 a.m.; "Cosmic Journey" at noon; "Season of Light" -- the holiday show -- at 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.; and "Legends of the Night Sky: Orion" at 3:40 p.m.
Public viewing
The event is free, courtesy of funds from RAMP and the Utah Office of Museum Services, and is gaining popularity.
The first Science Saturday in September brought in around 100 people. October's event boasted well over 300 people -- many of them in costume.
"We have seen the same families. If they came last time, they are here again," said Ohlhorst, at the Halloween day offering. "And they are not just doing a quick walk-through. They are here for two or three hours."
Folks were there to expand their knowledge of science -- in all forms. You want to learn plants -- there was a display for that. Learning a rock's properties -- you bet. Scorpions, spiders and snakes -- oh my, they were there.
It wasn't easy to gather all of the scientific areas together under one roof. "In fact, the first time we ran it, there were a few departments that didn't want to participate," Ohlhorst said.
But the students of those excluded departments talked professors into participation.
As a result, October's Science Saturday housed the entire College of Sciences.
"This is the first time we have ever gotten everyone involved in a common goal," Ohlhorst said.
Students are typically the main presenters at the event.
"They are all volunteers," said Barbara Wachocki, chairwoman of the botany department. "I think it's a really good experience for our students, because a lot of them are really good with kids and I think it's an excellent way for them to practice teaching skills and their interactions."
Natural selection
The hope behind Science Saturday is that a child will walk through and find that one area of science that he/she likes and might research further.
"We are trying to present different aspects of our areas of study that may not be the traditional way of how people view things," said Wachocki.
For instance, the first (event) we did in September, the botany group did carnivorous plants."
