Archive: Around Town

The Sciencenter is making a big deal about the smallest science! Funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation, the Sciencenter conceives, develops, and tests educational activities that foster public awareness, engagement, and understanding of nanoscale science, engineering, and technology. These programs and activities reach over a half million museum guests throughout the U.S. during NanoDays. An annual science festival, Nanodays is held at over 300 science museums in the U.S., organized by the Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network (NISE Net), of which the Sciencenter is a lead partner.

NanoDays takes place in Ithaca on Saturday, March 22, 12 – 4 pm at the Sciencenter. Guests will explore nanoscale science and technology with 30+ hands-on activities, family-friendly presentations, and the Nano exhibition. Admission to the Sciencenter is free all day for NanoDays, sponsored by BorgWarner, Inc.

A range of programs will demonstrate the special and unexpected properties found at the super tiny nanoscale, examine tools used by nanoscientists, showcase nano materials of particular promise, and invite discussion of technology and society.

Guests will investigate super-thin, flexible solar cells; encounter forces stronger than gravity; and imagine what society might be like if everyone wore invisibility cloaks. Other activities include using electricity to make a nickel coin look like a penny, and generating electricity in special materials using movement. Over 30 hands-on activities will be offered throughout the museum, delivered by Sciencenter staff, volunteers, and researchers from Cornell University (including the Cornell Center for Materials Research; the Cornell Institute for Biology Teachers; the Cornell Laboratory for Accelerator-based Sciences and Education; and the Cornell NanoScale Science & Technology Facility.)

At noon toddlers, preschoolers and their caregivers will hear a reading of Dr. Seuss’s “Horton Hears a Who!,” make a pair of elephant ears, and experiment with identifying different smells.

A special Showtime! Presentation at 2 pm, “A Different Kind of Gas” given by Paul Mutolo of the Energy Materials Center at Cornell, invites guests to discover how fuel cells may one day replace the engine in cars and buses to generate clean, efficient energy.

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