"Exploring Your Universe 2011" events will take place on Saturday, November 12, 2011 from 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm at UCLA's campus (see Visitor Info link above for general directions and scroll down on this page for a detailed campus map specific to this event). This event is FREE of charge to the public and FAMILY-FRIENDLY! We will feature many activities and demonstrations open to the general public (including students), and we plan to have more than last year! Activities for all ages includes workshops, faculty and graduate student talks, planetarium shows, and solar telescope viewing, comet making, weather tours, dinosaur fossils, physics demos and much more! This event includes participation from the Department of Physics and Astronomy, Earth and Space Sciences, Atmospheric Sciences, the CNSI High School NanoScience Program, and the Center for Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology. It is sponsored by the Department of Physics and Astronomy, UCLA Center for Student Programming, and each of the departments listed above. This event was developed by graduate students, faculty, and staff in each of the these departments.

Event Schedule

The primary event will take place in the Court of Sciences with activities and demos at the Physics and Astronomy Building, Mathematical Sciences Building, Geology Building, and near Kinsey Pavilion. You are welcome to come for any or all of the festivities! Feel free to pick workshops and activities you are interested in attending.

DAYTIME ACTIVITIES:

Astronomy (12:00 - 5:00 pm) (Court of Sciences unless otherwise noted):
- How the Sun works and solar telescope viewing
- Stellar Evolution
- Bottle Rockets
- Light and Spectra Lab
- Comet Making Demo
- Pocket Solar System and Asteroids
- Constellation Detectives
- History and Fact Booth - Galileo to Space Missions
- Discovery methods for finding new worlds beyond our solar system
- Planetarium Shows (Mathematical Sciences 8th floor): Every half hour starting 12:30 pm! Pick up tickets to planetarium at the Information Booth.

Physics (12:00 - 5:00 pm) (Physics and Astronomy Building - PAB):
- See radiation in a Cloud Chamber
- The science behind Optical Illusions
- Discovering the Speed of Sound
- Physics Demo Shows : TBD

Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (meet in lobby of Mathematical Sciences):
- Inside Look at Weather Observations and Forecasting Tour (requires walking up some stairs): 1:00-2:00 pm, 2:30-3:30 pm

Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences (12:00 - 5:00 pm) (Geology Building):
- Spectacular Rock and Mineral Displays
- Fossil and Fossil Cast Displays
- Earthquake Education Demonstrations
- Stalactite Collection on Display
- Petrified Wood Collection on Display
- Understanding Fluid Dynamic Systems
- Understanding Meteorites and MeteorWrongs
- Making Fossil Casts

NASA Mission Representation (12:00-5:00 pm) (Geology Building/ Court of Sciences): TBD

CEIN - Center for Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology (12:00-4:00
pm) (Court of Sciences):
- What is nanoscience, and what is special about nanoscale science and engineering?
- Hands-on activities for all ages. Q&A with scientists

CNSI High School NanoScience Program (12:00-5:00 pm)(Court of Sciences):
- Learn about nanoscience and nanotechnology.
- Hands-on activities about Self-Assembly, Superhydrophobic Surfaces, and Magnetic Fluids!

SCIENTIFIC TALKS (located in Mathematical Sciences Room 5200): TBD

2:00-2:30 pm: TBD
3:30-4:00 pm: TBD
4:30-5:00 pm: TBD


NIGHTTIME ACTIVITIES:

Astronomy (5:00 - 8:00 pm) (Mathematical Sciences 8/9th floor):
- Planetarium Shows (continued)
- Telescopes Viewing (with extra participation from the LA Astronomical Society - TBD

Physics (5:00 - 8:00 pm) (Mathematical Sciences 8/9th floor)
- Shadow Wall
- Light Tunnel

Information for Visitors

Bus Information:

Metro: http://www.metro.net/
       Recommended Routes: # 761, 2/302, 305

Big Blue Bus (Santa Monica): http://www.bigbluebus.com/
       Recommended Routes: # 1, 2, 3, 8, 12

Culver City Bus: http://www.culvercity.org/bus/
       Recommended Routes: # 6

Parking for Non-City Buses:

There is free bus parking available near the Fowler Museum. To reach this designated bus zone, enter campus from Sunset Blvd. at Westwood Plaza. Take the first right onto Charles Young Drive and park along the right side of the street, across from the athletic fields.

VIDEOS

"Exploring Your Universe 2010"

Join our Facebook event

If you have a Facebook account, you are welcome to RSVP by going to our Facebook event page!