Let's do science

Science celebrities Vern Ehlers and Stephen N. Frick will join Grand Valley State University Science faculty for an open house celebration of the joys of science.

Science Odyssey is a daylong event aimed at showing families the fun side of science. The event is Saturday, January 27, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Padnos Hall of Science on the Allendale campus of Grand Valley State University

The event will help youths from kindergarten on up experience the wonder of science through hands-on activities, take-home science projects, and science demonstrations in sessions led by GVSU science faculty.

Congressman Vern Ehlers will lead one of those sessions. Ehlers is the first research physicist in Congress, serving as Vice-Chairman of the Science Committee. After three years of studying at Calvin College, Ehlers received his undergraduate degree in physics and his Ph.D. in nuclear physics from the University of California at Berkeley. He moved to Calvin College in 1966 where he taught physics and later became chairman of the Physics Department.

Also speaking will be NASA astronaut Stephen N. Frick. A Gulf War veteran, Frick flew 26 combat missions from the Red Sea to targets in Iraq and Kuwait.

NASA selected Frick to be an astronaut in April 1996. After completing two years of training and evaluation, he is qualified for flight assignment as a pilot. He is currently assigned technical duties in the Astronaut Office Spacecraft Systems/Operations Branch.

The event is free and is sponsored by GVSU's math and science division, the university Regional Math and Science Center and WGVU.

Notable events include:
9:30 a.m. - Astronaut Stephen N. Frick speaks in 101 Loutit
10:30 a.m. - Science Education in our Schools with Vern Ehlers, 102 Loutit
11:30 a.m. - Whiz-Bang Science with Vern Ehlers, 102 Loutit
12:30 p.m. - Astronaut Stephen N. Frick speaks in 102 Loutit


All-day events include making slime, launching film canister rockets and experimenting with light and water.