Science festival showcases exhibits; ‘NOVA’ editor delivers keynote address

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Is it possible for chicken feathers to become the future of gasoline?

Or can a robot the size of dust cure blindness once inserted behind the eye?

With the power of science, it is all possible, said Evan Hadingham, senior science editor for PBS’s “NOVA.”

Saturday afternoon, Central Michigan University’s SciFest 2010 showcased scientific materials for children and adults of all ages.

“This (show) is meant to engage the community with this kind of dialogue,” Hadingham said.

Hadingham was the keynote speaker during the second half of the day in the Education and Human Service Building’s French Auditorium. About 150 attendees listened to Hadingham as he spoke about making science more relative to the audience.

He also showed several introductory clips about the new NOVA series “Making Stuff.”

During the first portion of the event, about 1,000 people attended the main science festival held in the Engineering and Technology Building.

Many children, like 8-year-old Midland resident Nadia Fisher, attended. At her favorite exhibit, Fisher eagerly squished globs of a chunky blue substance.

“You take this water and mix it with glue,” she said, “and then you put food coloring in it and you squish it all together until it becomes a solid.”

Nadia said people should be involved with science “because it is cool and sometimes unexpected things happen with it.”

Chemistry Professor Mary Tecklenburg, one of the event’s organizers, said the combined science festival was for professional scientists, students and the general public. Hadingham’s message was built around that topic.

“He talked about bringing science to life through television,” Tecklenburg said. “That was something that scientists are very interested in, but anybody is (also) interested in.”

Tecklenburg said there were numerous exhibits hosting CMU science students and others from Michigan universities who gave poster presentations.

Ten-year-old Midland resident Kevin Vang’s eyes lit up when he saw the tornado exhibit, which described how to tell what kind of tornado is approaching.

“I liked that I got to learn new things,” Kevin said. “When you look at the clouds, you can tell what kind of tornado it is.”