Scientists stage howling good time
Sarah Johnson, 778.782.3978, sjohnson@sfu.ca
Sophie Lavieri, 778.782.3537, slavieri@sfu.ca
Carol Thorbes, PAMR, 778.782.3035, cthorbes@sfu.ca
Website:
http://www.physics.sfu.ca/about/outreach
http://www.sfu.ca/~siasfu/index.html
Phantom physicists and cackling chemists will be among mad scientists brewing fiery lab cauldrons, smashing pumpkins with pendulums and staging other feats at Simon Fraser University’s first Halloween-themed science show.
The spooktacular event unfolds on Saturday, Oct. 31 (Halloween) 12:30 – 2:30 p.m. on the haunted hill (Burnaby campus).
Goblins and witches, aka SFU chemistry and physics professors, lecturers, students and staff, will engage the general public in free interactive displays of the wizardry that drives everyday conveniences such as lamps and fridges.
The main show runs from 1:30-2:30 p.m. in lecture hall B9200, located in the Shrum Science Centre on the south concourse of SFU’s Academic Quadrangle. Just follow the howls.
Prior to the show (12:30 – 1:30 p.m.) spirited scientists will serve liquid nitrogen ice cream to cool the audience’s jittery nerves, while outside of B9200, Dr. Inferno, aka chemistry department glass blower Bruce Harwood, will blow life into small glass animals that he will give away.
Should the sun make an appearance, physicist Howard Trottier will set up a telescope with a special filter to view nature’s golden globe.
Once transfixed by the pre-show, everyone will enter a 300-seat lecture hall where they’ll be invited to engage in eyebrow raising, if not hair-raising, activities.
Picture a suicide pendulum that threatens to collide with the faint of heart, a clock that changes colour more frequently than it tells the time, and water that transforms into wine and then milk.
“We’re not just mad scientists,” says Sarah Johnson, one of the witches and a senior physics lecturer, “we figure Halloween provides the perfect opportunity to demonstrate how science drives our world.”
She adds with a spooky cackle, “There are lots of floating, changing things happening at Halloween.”
Comments
Comment GuidelinesI was wondering when the " Spooktacular 2009" Video will be released and where to find it and a list of the next star parties please and thank you
PS
Dustin Song Tao Zhu
Interesting! I want to be one.