Students observe the process of sublimation (solid
changing
to a gas). Dry ice produces carbon dioxide
blowing up the bag like a balloon. Do you think this
scientist can pop the plastic bag?
You Can’t Squeeze Water! Learning the properties of
water by “shortening the fuse” with dry ice and liquid
water. What happens to the lid of the container when
water takes up space from the expanding gas?
Students act as a glacier by dragging ice through sand.
They create lateral moraines, terminal moraines, as well
as learn the various shapes glaciers can carve.
Students understand how to identify glacial evidence
around Lake Tahoe.
Snow Science! Students experience how to take a snow core sample with researchers from NRCS. The core is analyzed to determine climate cycles, weather patterns, and atmospheric deposition.
Science Expo
UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center (TERC) and partners will host the sixth annual Science Expo on March 12 - 15, 2012. The public open house will be held on Wednesday, March 14 from 4 - 6 p.m.
The 2012 event will feature interactive science experiments and demonstrations for kids ages 6 to 12 and their families. This year's theme is Life Science. Hands-on exhibits, activities and demonstrations include:
- Tree of Life
- Nano, micro and macro scales
- DNA testing
- Plant dissection
- Fish, insects, reptiles and mammals
- and more!
Interest in the event has grown tremendously. Last year, nearly 900 people, both students and parents, came through the Science Expo event.
High school students participating in the Youth Science Institute have an opportunity to develop experiments to share with the younger students in the community. Other regional partners including the Tahoe Maritime Museum and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service offer up activities, experiments, or demonstrations. UC Davis Americorps volunteers and docents can also be found staffing activity stations.
“The Science Expo is truly a collaborative community effort,” said Heather Segale, education and outreach coordinator for the UC Davis TERC. "We have a three-year cycle of life science (2012), physical science (2013), and Earth science (2014) activities planned for the Science Expo."
This year's event is sponsored by UC Davis, Tahoe Expeditionary Academy, and Lake Tahoe School. The Tahoe Center for Environmental Sciences is located at 291 Country Club Drive in Incline Village (between Tahoe Boulevard/SR 28 and Lakeshore).
For more information please contact Heather Segale, education and outreach coordinator at (775) 881-7562.
Volunteers Needed
Please contact Heather Segale at (775) 881-7562 if you are interested in volunteering for the Science Expo.
Previous Science Expo Events
The collaborative group has hosted annual Science Expo events with a changing focus on "Snow, Ice, Water and Earth", environmental science, earth science and physical science. The Tahoe Center for Environmental Sciences facility provides the perfect setting including use of teaching laboratories, a 3-D visualization theater, and other educational tools.
Comments from visiting students:
- “It was so cool. I liked it all so much!”
- “I liked to learn about the shape of the valley glaciers make.”
- “I learned in ice that when matter changes from a solid directly into a gas it is called sublimation.”
- “I also learned that water sticks to everything including itself.”
- “I can’t wait until next year. Thanks again for making last Wednesday so much fun.”