EXPLORIT Science Center - Weekly Column

This weekend Explorit is abuzz with activity! This weekend is the final chance to experience Explorit Science Center’s “What’s the Buzz? Insects around Us” exhibition. In addition, artist Sam Tubiolo will conduct a free workshop at Explorit from 1 to 3p.m. tomorrow investigating nature and art.

“What’s the Buzz? Insects around Us” is an interactive, hands-on exhibition designed to engage and excite children about science and the insect world. Children visiting the exhibit will get a chance to experience what it is like to jump like a flea and see like a bee as well as to make an artsy insect to take home.

Several activities in the exhibition focus on bees. “Bees are insects that many of us learn to fear but are actually quite beneficial,” explains Explorit’s exhibit coordinator Karen Cebra.

Bees belong to the order of insects known as Hymenoptera, which literally means "membrane wings." This order, comprising some 100,000 species, also includes wasps, which are often confused with bees. Of the 100,000 species of Hymenoptera, 25,000 or more are bees.

Honeybees, which are common in California, are social animals, like people. They nest in colonies and work together, taking on different roles, to keep the colony productive.

One behavior characteristic that visitors to Explorit can investigate is the way honeybees communicate with each other through dance language. Foraging bees returning from gathering food will conduct a “waggle dance” to tell other bees how far away and in what direction food is.

Visitors will also learn how to tell the difference between honeybees and wasps. While honeybees and wasps are part of the same order and are often confused, they build different types of nests and have very different ways of feeding their young.

“A wasp nest is made of paper while the honeybee nest is made of bee gland spit, otherwise known as beeswax” says Cebra. Visitors to Explorit can view both kinds of nests up close.

Visitors will also get to observe a variety of live insects. There are termites and walking sticks on display as well as two different types of exotic cockroaches.

Tomorrow, from 1 to 3p.m., families can participate in a workshop conducted by artist Sam Tubiolo. Workshop participants will explore the site of Mr. Tubiolo’s proposed neighborhood art project in Mace Ranch Community Park, take notes about the experience of the natural environment, and make on-location drawings. Participants will then transform their ideas and drawings into clay tiles for inclusion in the permanent public art pieces.

The permanent art pieces being designed by Mr. Tubiolo are part of a series called The Neighborhood Art Projects, sponsored by the Civic Arts Commission. The Commission has identified four neighborhood parks in Davis as sites for public art projects. Mr. Tubiolo’s proposal involves several art installations at various sites within Mace Ranch Community Park, which will respond to the natural features of the park.

The workshop is appropriate for all ages although an adult must accompany children under 6. Drop in at any time to participate in the workshop. Nature walks to the proposed sites of Mr. Tubiolo’s artwork will take place at 1 and 2p.m. Admission to the workshop is free. Admission to the “What’s the Buzz?” exhibition is $3 per person.

Explorit Science Center Weekly Column