Realizing the richness of the area’s science offerings will be a simple calculation at an upcoming inaugural science festival.
After he moved to the area, William “Mac” Sudduth, executive director of miSci, wanted to showcase various Capital District science community members, from clubs and universities to businesses and nonprofits. Sudduth moved from Georgia one year ago to join miSci (the Museum of Innovation and Science) in Schenectady.
“I was impressed with the number of people in the area who do something with science for families and for kids,” Sudduth said. “I thought it would be neat if we could get them all together under one roof.”
This led miSci to plan Super Science Weekend from Saturday, Nov. 9, to Monday, Nov. 11, which is to feature several hands-on and interactive attractions in a family friendly atmosphere. The Dudley Observatory will kick off the three-day event on Friday, Nov. 8, with a lecture about the uniqueness of our solar system, followed by a stargazing party.
There are several daylong activities and presentations planned at miSci, along with some happening at designated times, allowing people to learn and explore different avenues of science. The activities will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Monday, and Sunday they will run from noon to 5 p.m.
“There will be something going on in different places all the time, so you can wander around and pick what you want to see,” Sudduth said.
Five Rivers Environmental Education Center staff will be at the event all three days with the “wild turkey” program. WMHT will be present the first two days with the program “Eat Like a Bird.” New York Wildlife Rescue will also have birds on display, along with a bird demonstration once each day. Several dry ice demonstrations will be held by miSci throughout the event.
Some unique events on Saturday include Union College professor Jim Hedrick explaining how to talk to robots, Niskayuna High School students giving chemistry demonstrations, Empire State Aerosciences Museum offering flight simulations and the Dudley Observatory offering a solar viewing.
On Sunday, there will be a robot scrimmage between Niskayuna and Mohonasen high school students. On Monday, SI Group will present its popular bubble hoist demonstration, and Mr. Sly the Science Guy will have a presentation on energy and matter.
Cabot Creamery has also donated cheese to be used for a food science presentation.
“There is a lot of chemistry in food,” Sudduth said. “I think a lot people don’t realize how ubiquitous science is in our lives now.”
The festival will also feature Harry Ringermacher, who will be giving a lecture starting at 7 p.m. on Friday at the Dudley Observatory on discovering planets around other “suns.” There are around 3,000 candidate planets in the “Goldilocks zone” of their stars, and around three or four are considered “super-earths.” Ringermacher though will explain what makes our solar system rare.
Ringermacher retired last year from General Electric Global Research Center as a senior research physicist. He was project leader of the infrared imaging group, and he also worked with laser techniques and nuclear magnetic resonance for materials evaluation.
The “bread and butter” of miSci is families coming with children, Sudduth said, but seniors are also coming out to see what miSci has to offer.
“Parents and families are looking for things they can do with their children. And learning is lifelong, and I think a lot of people are still looking to learn things after they get out of school,” he said. “If you look at individual sciences, everybody has one they are interested in.”
Sudduth added learning more about science is a benefit for everyone.
“We don’t think people are going to make every child into a scientist or engineer,” he said, “but if you are familiar with it, you will be able to make better informed decisions.”