Fruit is the juicy topic for Morrill Hall's 'Sunday Scientist' April 17

The University of Nebraska State Museum's next Sunday with a Scientist program for children and families will explore a juicy topic: fruit. "The Fascinating World of Fruit" will take place April 17 from 1:30-4:30 p.m. at Morrill Hall. Morrill Hall is south of 14th and Vine Streets on the UNL City Campus. Museum Sunday hours are 1:30-4:30 p.m.

Biologists Stacey D. Smith and Sabrina Russo, assistant professors in the UNL School of Biological Sciences will provide fun, hands-on activities and demonstrations to help visitors learn about the diversity of cultivated and wild fruit. Visitors will explore the amazing things fruit can do (fly? explode?), as well as the variety of fruit shapes, sizes, and colors generated by different dispersal modes (wind, water, animals). The scientists will explain the important role fruit plays in the environment, the plant life cycle, and the diets of animals and humans. Visitors will also have the opportunity to touch and smell fresh and dried fruits from around the world.

To learn more about the UNL School of Biological Sciences research on the genetics, evolution and ecology of plants, visit Smith's lab at https://sites.google.com/site/iochromas or Russo's lab at www.unl.edu/srusso/index.html.

Sunday with a Scientist is a series of presentations that highlight the work of State Museum scientists and those from other UNL departments and institutions, while educating children and families on a variety of topics related to science and natural history. Presenters share scientific information in a fun and informal way through demonstrations, activities, or by conducting their science on site. Sunday with a Scientist programs are 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. at Morrill Hall on the third Sunday of each month.

Upcoming Sunday with a Scientist Topics: May 15 -- Extreme Weather; June 19 -- Tissue Mechanics; July 17 -- Fish; Aug. 21 - Climate Change; Sept. 18 -- Plants; Oct. 16 -- Fossils; Nov. 20 -- Viruses; Dec. 18 -- Minerals. For updates on the Sunday with a Scientist schedule through the year and other museum programs, visit www.museum.unl.edu.

Established in 1871, the University of Nebraska State Museum is celebrating its 140th anniversary with public events and educational programming throughout the year. Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Wednesday and Friday-Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursdays, and 1:30-4:30 p.m. Sundays. Admission is $5 for adults (19 and over), $3 for children (5-18 years, 4 and under are free), and $10 for families (up to two adults and children). UNL staff, faculty and students are admitted free with valid NU ID. There is an additional charge for planetarium shows. Parking is free. For further information, telephone the museum at (402) 472-3779, or contact Kathy French, education coordinator, at (402) 472-6647 or by email.

WRITER: Dana Ludvik, Public Relations Coordinator, NU State Museum, (402) 472-3779