California State University, Fresno physics students and professors give San Joaquin Valley schoolchildren a firsthand look at the science behind lying on a bed of nails, spinning like an Olympic ice skater and making ice cream using liquid nitrogen.
Usually, the Fresno State physics team visits Valley elementary, middle and high schools giving demonstrations designed to stimulate interest in the science. However, at 3 p.m. Friday, March 4, Valley schools will send their pupils to Fresno State as university students and faculty present demonstrations at a Department of Physics Colloquium at McLane Hall, Room 162.
The Fresno State team travels to schools from Madera to Delano to give two one-hour presentations. The road show resumes March 11 in Delano.
Dr. Pei-Chun Ho, an assistant professor of physics, and lecturer Don Williams launched the outreach program in spring 2010 with stops at nine schools. More requests were received this year as word about the program spread.
The initial success led the physics department to create a service learning course so Fresno State students receive academic credit for being team members.
The class teaches the students how to operate demonstration equipment, safe ways to handle cryogenic fluid and effective techniques for communicating astronomy and other scientific information to their audiences. Team members also develop new demonstrations or improve existing ones.
Other university Physics professors and lecturers also participate in the demonstrations, sharing their respective areas of expertise.
For more information, contact Nancy Wright at 559.278.6652 or nawright@csufresno.edu.
Copy by University Communications news intern Nicole Maul
