NEW EXHIBIT GROWS UP AT EXPLORIT

Tomorrow Explorit Science Center will open its doors to reveal the brand new exhibit "Way to Grow: Health and the Human Body." Running through September 10, the exhibit will give visitors an introspective look into the inner workings of their own human body, while encouraging healthy behavior and emphasizing safety. 

And, true to the Explorit philosophy, the exhibit will be composed of a wide array of challenging and intriguing hands-on activities, carefully designed to guide visitors on their journey from head to toe.

Immediately after setting foot inside the exhibit hall, visitors will encounter their first challenge: what to do first? To the right is the wall of neurons, made of carefully twisted pipe cleaners and waiting to form a giant neural chain with additions from helpful and creative guests. 

In the middle of the room sits some peculiar looking bicycle-like contraptions, ready for an energetic user to test her physical strength. Will it be possible to generate enough energy to illuminate a lightbulb? Across the room, a pile of bones challenges visitors to try and reassemble the plastic, human skeleton.

No matter which direction is chosen, the immense variety and number of activities are sure to quickly envelop all visitors in a whirlwind of discovery.

Gwendolyn Casazza, Explorit's outreach program coordinator, has no doubt that the new exhibit will be a hit. "People love to explore topics to which they can directly relate," she explained. 

"The growth section of the exhibit will be especially popular. The students will be able to measure their current height, and, by using an easy-to-read chart, predict how tall they will be as adults. They'll be able to look at a model of an adult mouth, and actually count and record how their teeth compare right now. These very personal activities always initiate a tremendous interest and response," she said.

There is another type of activity that is also sure to draw a crowd. "People also love to see the gross side of things," laughed Casazza. "We have a tooth on display that has been permanently immersed in soda. That is always popular, and generates quite a bit of discussion."

Tomorrow's grand opening also features a special Family Exploration program, free with paid admission to the museum. "Come to Your Senses" will challenge visitors to learn a bit about touch, taste, smell, sight and hearing by performing experiments like taste tests and more. 

"Come to Your Senses" runs from 1 to 4:00 p.m. and is sponsored by Davis Waste Removal.

Support for "Way to Grow" comes from Kaiser Permanente, Soroptimist International of Davis and SureWest Foundation.

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Explorit Science Center is at 3141 Fifth St. in East Davis. The current exhibition "Way to Grow: Health and the Human Body" runs through September 10. Public hours are Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. 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.