Explore Earth and space with ASU scientists Oct. 25

community members look at meteorites and engage with ASU scientists
October 20, 2014

The public is invited to spend a day exploring Earth and space with ASU scientists from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Oct. 25, at the Interdisciplinary Science and Technology Building IV (ISTB 4), at Arizona State University’s Tempe campus. The daylong event is designed to inspire the many local kids, parents, educators and other community members that are intrigued by science.

Earth and Space Exploration Day provides a variety of science-related interactive activities for children ages five and up and anyone interested in exploring Earth and space alongside real scientists.

This will be the 17th year that faculty and students in the School of Earth and Space Exploration in ASU’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences have sponsored the event and used it as a means of connecting the community with science.

Together, families can experience a variety of activities, including digging for meteorites and creating impact craters, manipulating robotic arms and driving remote controlled underwater robots, and learning the science of rockets by making a soda straw rocket, to name a few. For a complete listing of activities, visit http://sese.asu.edu/earth-and-space-exploration-day.

In addition to the tabletop activities and interactive demonstrations, there will be lab tours, lectures and opportunities to engage with the kiosk-style exhibits in the Gallery of Scientific Exploration.

Space lovers can look through telescopes at solar spots and visit a replica of Curiosity Rover, matching the dimensions of the real rover currently on Mars. Several 3-D astronomy shows will be offered at various times in the building’s state-of-the-art, high-definition Marston Exploration Theater.

Meteorite enthusiasts can visit the meteorite display on the second floor, drawn from the extensive collection of ASU’s Center for Meteorite Studies. Visitors can examine touchable samples, engage with interactive displays and ask staff to inspect potential meteorite specimens.

Rock hounds can bring a rock specimen for "Dr. Rock" to analyze and identify, or take part in a family-friendly geology field trip to “A” Mountain (Hayden Butte) to learn about the sedimentary rocks, volcanic rocks and geological structures exposed in Tempe. The ASU GeoClub will also be selling mineral and rock samples, along with snacks.

Lectures are scheduled throughout the day on topics ranging from space exploration to Earth’s climate.

For more information, contact the School of Earth and Space Exploration at (480) 965-5081 or visit http://sese.asu.edu/earth-and-space-exploration-day