‘Cool science’ focus of Science Exploration Day

Science Exploration Day — UB’s annual adventure in “cool science” — arrives at the North Campus March 20, welcoming hundreds of the area’s most promising STEM students with innovative and sometimes offbeat science seminars.

The gathering brings scientists, engineers and health care professionals to campus to offer a glimpse into their worlds to the next generation of prospective scientists and everyday citizens who will be asked to support science in the 21st century. The seminars are designed for a hands-on, accessible experience on popular science topics.

“‘STEM is hot!’ ‘STEM is cool!’ I have seen these and similar headlines recently,” says Rodney Doran, professor emeritus of science education in the Graduate School of Education, and one of the dozen science teachers, professors and administrators from local schools and colleges that make up the committee that plans the event each year.

“The goal of Science Exploration Day is for each student to make his or her own headline about STEM,” Doran says.

The event, from 8:25 a.m. to 1:05 p.m., is held during UB’s spring break, giving the hundreds of visitors from public and private high schools the run of the campus. The goal is to “tune them in to science,” according to Doran, so they will continue their studies in science and become part of the future in the mathematics, science, engineering and medical fields.

Each student will hear from this year’s keynote speaker and one of several large group speakers, then attend two small group sessions or lab tours, organizers say. This year’s keynoter is Ted Yeshion, professor in the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminalistics at Gannon University. Yeshion will give students an overview of a typical crime laboratory and the responsibilities of each section. With a focus on evidence, Yeshion will define forensic science, and explain how di­fferent scientific disciplines integrate to assist investigators in resolving inquiries of a legal nature. He will also talk about the importance of crime scene reconstruction.

Other presentations in this year’s Science Exploration Day include “Science in Your Life (That you probably never think about!),” “Exploring the Human Brain,” a portable star lab planetarium, “Colorful Coral Reefs,” “Really Gross Anatomy and Physiology,” a tour of UB’s earthquake simulator and “Electrical Engineering: Interactive Tour With Hands-on Participation.”

Many of the presenters are from UB and area colleges and universities, as well as local industries, research laboratories and government agencies. Others are major participants in health care services. Graduate students currently working on research projects will lead and assist in other group presentations.

These sessions provide excellent, up-to-date supplements to the topics that are part of high school science courses, Doran explains.

“Throughout the presentations, these outstanding students will hear the same messages: Science is everywhere. Scientists and engineers work in teams. Scientists and engineers take advantage of many different technologies,” he says. “And STEM is happening in all parts of the world.”

For more information, visit the Science Exploration Day website.