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Article for: The Davis Enterprise
Date: August 22, 2003
Author: Mackenzie Tysell
Contact: Tom Wickersham

RECHARGE YOURSELF AT EXPLORIT'S ENERGY DAY

Carpool, bus or bike to Explorit Science Center tomorrow to experience a lively afternoon of putting the "reduce, reuse, recycle" motto into action. Admission to Explorit's Energy Day is free thanks to a sponsorship from the California Sate and Consumer Services Agency.

Explorit opens at 11 a.m., and Energy Day runs from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Energy conservation is the theme, and visitors will have a variety of opportunities to learn some ways to help out planet Earth.

Recycle Rex, spokesdinosaur for the California Department of Conservation will be on hand to share some of his "RecyCool Tips." >From 2 to 3 p.m. Recycle Rex will encourage to visitors to recycle and buy recycled products for home, school and play.

According to Rex's web site <www.consrv.ca.gov/DOR/rre/>, consumers can conserve natural resources and prevent the unnecessary filling of landfills by making sure products they purchase are recyclable and use the least amount of packaging necessary. Rex will also have goodie bags of recycled products for visitors to take home.

Another opportunity to learn some conservation tips come from visiting UC Davis scientists who will answer questions about hydrogen fuel cell technology. A Toyota Fuel Cell program vehicle from the UC Davis Institute for Transportation Studies (ITS) will be on hand as an example of the emerging technology.

"Fuel cells in cars are only one application of the technology," said John Tillman, an ITS program manager. He added, "Research is being carried out on fuel cell systems that will power cell phones, laptops and many of the small devices we use batteries in now."

The fuel cells work by converting a hydrogen molecule into 2 hydrogen protons and 2 electrons. The freed electrons create the electricity on which the vehicle runs. The hydrogen ions combine with oxygen in the air and forms water, a byproduct of the process.

"Fuel cells help conserve our environment because the energy they create has no byproduct other than water and some heat thus reducing greenhouse and other harmful emissions," Tillman explained.

Explorit visitors will also be able to make and take home crafts that involve reusing and recycling materials. At this ongoing, drop-in program visitors will reuse magazines by making them into jewelry. At another station visitors can recycle used paper products to create a pulp, which will then be transformed into 100% recycled paper to take home.

The exhibit hall will be open all day for visitors to explore patterns and mathematics found in nature at the current exhibition "Count on It: Numbers in Nature."

Energy Day will provide a way for visitors to get charged up about the future of energy conservation as well as spark an interest in ways everybody can start conserving today and everyday.

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Explorit Science Center is at 3141 5th Street in East Davis. The current exhibition is "Count on It: Numbers in Nature," which continues through Sept. 27. Public hours are Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Sunday from 1 to 4:30 p.m., and Tuesday through Friday from 2 to 4:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.explorit.org or call Explorit at (530) 756-0191.