What do sunglasses, barcodes, and Blu-Ray discs all have in common? Lasers and Optics! Lasers and optics are all around us. The University of Nebraska State Museum will host a Sunday with a Scientist program for children to learn about light, lasers, and optics from 1:30-4:30 p.m. March 20 at Morrill Hall. Morrill Hall is south of 14th and Vine Streets on the UNL City Campus (map at http://www1.unl.edu/tour/MORR). Museum Sunday hours are 1:30-4:30 p.m.
Scientists in the UNL Department of Electrical Engineering will provide fun, hands-on activities and demonstrations to help visitors learn how lasers and optics work and impact our lives. Visitors will have the opportunity to tune and generate lasers, while exploring the fascinating properties of light and optics. The scientists will also explain the many ways in which we encounter lasers and optics in daily life, from sunglasses, TV remote controllers, LCD displays, DVD players, to hologram art.
Presenters from the UNL Department of Electrical Engineering will include Assistant Professor Ming Han and students Thomas Fink and Greg Baker.
For more information about the UNL Department of Electrical Engineering, visit http://engineering.unl.edu/academicunits/electricalengineering/.
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 will 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: April 17 -- Fruit; 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, visit http://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, visit its Web site or Mueller Planetarium's Web site, http://www.spacelaser.com, or contact Kathy French, Education Coordinator, at (402) 472-6647 or kfrench2@unl.edu.
More details at: http://events.unl.edu/2011/03/20/55142/