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By: Suzette Smiley
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This weekend marks the last chance to visit Explorit's popular current exhibition, "Solving Mysteries with Science."
Test your powers of observation by playing detective. Detectives often rely on handwriting analysis to detect forgeries. Is your eye keen enough to detect subtle differences in script?
What about fibers? They may all look the same at first, but when observed with the power of the microscope, they can provide investigators with important clues. Just take a look for yourself. Does a human hair look the same as a polar bear hair?
Believe it or not, another way to distinguish fibers is by burning them. With the help of an Explorit staff member, discover how cotton, wool, and nylon all burn in different ways.
You can investigate "Solving Mysteries With Science" Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Explorit is located at 3141 Fifth St. in East Davis.
Admission is $3. Explorit members, teachers, and children under 4 are always admitted free.
Explorit will be closed to the public Monday, March 4, through Friday, March 8, in preparation for the new exhibition, "Body Basics: Taking Better Care" which opens on Saturday, March 9.
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Nature is readying itself for spring and so are we. Explorit is offering Spring Vacation Classes for elementary children the week of April 1 - 5. Registrations are being accepted now and classes are beginning to fill, but there are still openings.
Children in grades K-2 can learn how rocks are formed and the special ingredients that are required to form them in the class, "All About Rocks" held on Tuesday, April 2, from 10 to 11:30 am.
Second and third graders enrolled in "Up, Up, and Away" will discover how simple rockets, airplanes, and hot air balloons get off the ground, stay up in the air, or fall gently back to earth on Wednesday, April 3, from 11 am to 12:30 pm.
Fourth through sixth graders will explore the hidden colors in inks, Kool-Aid, and food coloring when they take "Color Capers with Chromatography" on Friday, April 5, from 1 to 2:30 pm.
For a complete class listing and a registration form, drop by or call Explorit at 756-0191. Payments can be made by check or over the phone with Visa or Mastercard.
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With Suzanne Ullensvang's promotion to Program Director, Beth Post has become our new Exhibit Curator. Heather Banks, who presented our outreach program, Science in Your World, will now be leading students through our on-site Discovery Lessons each morning.
We are pleased to welcome Doug Smith to our staff as Exhibit Outreach Specialist. Doug brings his special talents as a chemist and glass blower to our Science in Your World program.
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Explorit proudly hosts the 11th annual Nature Bowl Regional Semi-Finals on Wednesday, March 13. Teams of third- and fourth-, and fifth- and sixth-graders will be competing to answer questions and complete activities related to regional environmental science and issues.
Volunteers familiar with science and conservation are urgently needed to assist at competition stations and judge answers in the morning or afternoon. Any help would be sincerely appreciated as the teams have been actively training well in advance for this exciting day. To volunteer, call Beth Post or Heather Banks at 756-0191.
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A special fund - the Evelyn Buddenhagen Space Fund - has been established in recognition of recently retired Program Director Evelyn Buddenhagen's great contribution and service to Explorit.
At Evelyn's request, the Fund will be used to provide desperately needed additional space for the presentation of public programs at the Explorit site. Possibilities being considered include the lease of a portable classroom or remodeling of the existing areas on site to be used for classes, meetings, speakers, and other public programs.
Donations to the Space Fund will enable Explorit to meet the current and growing demand for the educational programs that Evelyn developed. Please call 756-0191 for more information.
Not quite sure what to do with that old computer or printer? Explorit is seeking donations of working 386's, Macintosh Classics or better. Inkjet or image writer printers in good working condition are also needed. Call Suzanne or Jim at 756-0191 if you would like to donate.
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Drop by the Explorit store for unique gifts with an educational twist. There is plenty to choose from - everything from crackling balls to astronaut ice cream to cricket lollipops - to entertain and interest people, whatever their age!