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Article for: The Davis Enterprise
Date: July 25, 2003
Author: Mackenzie Tysell
Contact: Tom Wickersham

Each night the sky brightens with stars. But one important star is missing: the sun. It's easy to forget that the sun is just another star. After all, it appears ten billion times brighter than any other star and provides the Earth with life-giving energy.

At Explorit Science Center tomorrow visitors will be able to explore the power of the sun at the Solar Festival 2003. This free event, sponsored by the California State and Consumer Services Agency, will run from 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission to the changing exhibition "Count on It: Numbers in Nature" is also free and will open at 11:00 a.m.

Included as part of the festival are several workshops available for families. Families will discover ways to capture the sun's rays for cooking, powering a model car or even heating a home. Space in all workshops is limited. Sign-up sheets will be available at Explorit starting at 11:00 a.m., and sign-up will be on a first come, first served basis.

Solar Cookers International (SCI) will be cooking food throughout the day, showing visitors how to make their own solar cookers, and sharing information about solar cooker use around the world.

According to Susan Mahoney of SCI, food starts cooking at 180º Fahrenheit and solar cookers can easily reach temperatures of 250º or greater. To reach the highest temperatures, simply orient the cooker so that it faces the sun. Ideally the sun's rays hit the cooker at a 90-degree angle.

"People are often surprised to learn that you can cook when it's cold out.
It's the sun's angle and intensity that matters most, not the outside air
temperature. SCI members have successfully solar cooked meals in January in
Minnesota and high in the mountains of Nepal," says Mahoney.

SCI volunteers will be leading workshops at 1:00 p.m. and again at 3:00 p.m. where families will have the opportunity to construct their own solar panel cookers and learn about the benefits of solar cooking. Some benefits of solar cooking include reducing electricity consumption, keeping the kitchen cool, and, according to Mahoney, "solar cooked food is nutritious and tastes great!" Participants in this workshop will definitely be able to test out the last claim for themselves.

From 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. Liz Merry, a volunteer board member of the Northern California Solar Energy Association, an educational non-profit working to promote solar and renewable energy, will present a workshop for adults on installing solar panels for homes.

The benefits of using solar energy at home are both financial and environmental. "Solar technology is quite simple and effective. If residents have electric bills over $100 per month investment in both solar thermal and solar electric technology makes good financial sense for Davis residents," says Merry.

Additionally, throughout the day Explorit staff will hold workshops on building model cars powered by solar panels. All supplies will be provided. Families will learn about the basic principles of photovoltaics - producing electrical energy from light - and assemble a small vehicle that will travel under bright sunlight.

Explorit Science Center has a lot to offer at this fun-in-the-sun filled festival. Even though the sun is 93 million miles away, its presence here on Earth is felt and appreciated by all. Come to Explorit tomorrow to learn more about the Earth's closest star and take home a new appreciation for the power of the sun.

Explorit Science Center's Solar Festival 2003 Workshops:

1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.: For kids of all ages Solar Cookers International will show visitors how to make their own solar cookers. 

2:00 to 3:00 p.m.: For adults the Northern California Solar Energy Association will lead an informational session about solar panels for homes.

Throughout the day: For kids of all ages Explorit staff will lead workshops on assembling model cars that run on solar energy.

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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. The fourth Saturday of every month is free to the public. For more information, visit www.explorit.org or call Explorit at (530) 756-0191.