Lester’s Forbidden Experiment, Screaming Gummy Bears and Blowtorch in a Beaker: Those three activities will make up just part of the roster during the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ annual Science Potpourri on Saturday, April 9, from noon to 3 p.m. The College of Natural Science and Mathematics hosts the free event in the Reichardt Building on the Fairbanks campus.

“The enthusiasm at the event is catching. The professors and students are excited to be doing the event, and the parents and children are having a great time. You can’t help but be excited yourself,” said Jacy Pietsch, event coordinator and lab manager for the CNSM chemistry department. The department started the event as a way to spark children’s curiosity in science.

The event will feature a “potpourri” of activities, such as digging for fossils, seeing real lava, creating an earthquake and looking at stars in a portable planetarium. The Reichardt Building will be full of experiments and hands-on activities. There will also be three shows:

• 12:30 p.m. — The power of vaccuum


• 1:30 p.m. — Have a blast with chemistry


• 2:30 p.m. — A “lava” fun with volcanoes

Activities are designed for children of all ages, including toddlers. Adults should accompany all children. Parking is available behind the Reichardt Building. For more information, visit www.cnsm.uaf.edu/science-potpourri or call 907-474-7608.

ON THE WEB: www.cnsm.uaf.edu/science-potpourri