Atlanta Science Festival Will Transform Centennial Olympic Park Into Giant Hands-On Laboratory for Exploration Expo
Atlanta, Georgia (PRWEB) March 12, 2014 -- Centennial Olympic Park served as the central place to celebrate the 1996 Summer Olympics and has hosted numerous high-profile concerts, festivals and rallies since then, but the Atlanta Science Festival is the first to transform the site into the city’s largest learning laboratory for its Exploration Expo.
The Festival is an eight-day series of science-and technology-related events taking place citywide that culminates with the family-friendly, all-day interactive Exploration Expo at Centennial Olympic Park. The Expo is a free event being held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., on Saturday, March 29, at Centennial Olympic Park. The event offers non-stop, big-bang activities; out-of-this-world experiments; pop-up interactive exhibits; mind-bending games; and a full lineup of science-oriented live entertainment – plus so much more.
“We wanted to end our eight-day celebration with a splash by really showing how science matters ― in a big way ― and there’s no better stage than Centennial Olympic Park to make that kind of statement,” said Monya Ruffin, chairman of the Exploration Expo and senior scientist at Emory University. “We wanted a signature event that appealed to everyone. Science can be intimidating, and the Expo affords us the opportunity to create a fun, educational and accessible event for our great city.”
Among the exhibits planned for the Expo:
• The Makers Village | Atlanta Makers, presented by Arthur M. Blank Foundation
The maker community in Atlanta and several local schools will show off their most scientifically inspired, interactive projects, from electronics and robotics to 3-D printing, liquid hopscotch games and more.
• Killer Plants | Atlanta Botanical Garden
Discover the amazing variety of plants that eat insects and learn how the Atlanta Botanical Garden is striving to conserve them in the wild.
• The Buzz School of Science and Wizardry | Georgia Institute of Technology
Science is magic! Stop by and let our science sorting hat help you figure out in what field of science you’d like to work your own magic.
• Germs, Germs, Germs | Emory Pipeline Program
Learn how quickly an infectious disease can spread and what you can do to reduce the chance you’ll get sick!
• SCABS: Real and Pretend | Silver Screen Spook Show
Professor Morte, Atlanta’s very own ghost host with the most, will show you the science behind scabs and how to make fake ones at home.
• Gas is a Blast!! | Centennial Place Elementary
Harness your gas and use it for good!
• How Computers Can Help Aging Individuals Live Independently | Human Factors and Aging Laboratory: PRISM Project
Participate in an interactive simulation of common age-related declines (e.g. vision and hand-motion control) and computer interfaces to aid older adults.
• Monkeys of the Sea | Discovery Marine Science
Be a marine biologist and conduct an experiment to see how “sea monkeys” respond to light. Then feed them to their anemone enemies.
“When kids engage in science, it gives them a chance to experience the magic of how the natural world works,” said Dr. Sylvia Earle, internationally recognized oceanographer, explorer, author, and lecturer. “The wonder they feel can inspire them to be stewards of the natural systems that keep us all alive. That's why I salute Captain Planet and Emory University for their involvement with the Atlanta Science Festival! Here's to the future - our kids!”
Additionally, schools will also get a chance to win $400 to enhance science education for their classrooms (i.e. supplies, field trips, professional development, afterschool programs, etc.) During the Expo, students can check-in at the Information Booth and fill out a card to register their class to win. The more students who enter, the higher the chance a class will be selected as a winner. Ten schools will be selected at random to receive a $400 award made in honor of the student and teacher whose card was selected.
For the latest information on the Atlanta Science Festival activities, please follow the event on Facebook at AtlantaScienceFestival and on Twitter at @ATLSciFest. To view the full Expo schedule, visit http://atlantasciencefestival.org/expo-exhibitors.
About the Atlanta Science Festival
The first event of its kind in the Metro area, The Atlanta Science Festival is a weeklong celebration of local science and technology that culminates with an all-day interactive Exploration Expo at Centennial Olympic Park. Scientists, experts and educators from local schools, colleges, universities, museums, and corporations will uncover mysteries and explain discoveries in hands-on activities, facility tours, stimulating presentations, and riveting performances at venues across the city. Our mission is to celebrate the inherent integration of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) in our lives today, share the impact they have on our community, and inspire us all to wonder about our future. The Festival, which runs March 22-29, is produced by a collaboration of science, cultural, and educational institutions, led by Emory University, Georgia Institute of Technology and the Metro Atlanta Chamber. To learn more, visit AtlantaScienceFestival.org or call (770) 322-4992.
Sara Wakefield, Atlanta Science Festival, +1 678-566-3144, [email protected]
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